Reactions of Cr³⁺ with aspartic acid within a wide pH range

Abstract

Formation of the metal complexes of aspartic acid (Asp) with the chromium metal ion (Cr³⁺) in solutions using potentiometric titrations is presented within a wide pH range (∼3.5 to ∼10.5) at 25°C and I=0.10 M NaNO₃. Concentration distribution diagrams revealed that the main complex formed within this pH range is the bis Cr ³⁺ complex. Literature stability constant values for the Cr–Asp complexes were used to construct concentration distribution diagrams. Complexes taken into consideration were the simple one-to-one complex, the bis-complex, and the bis-mono-protonated complex, namely, Cr–Asp, Cr(Asp)₂, and Cr(Asp)₂H. The corresponding Log β values of these complexes were 12.46, 21.86, and 24.30, respectively. UV–Vis spectra demonstrate Cr ³⁺–Asp binding. The UV–Vis spectra were collected from a system that reached a high level of equilibrium state (50 days’ equilibrium time).

Keywords:

• Aspartic acid
• Bis Cr³⁺ complex
• Distribution diagrams
• UV–Vis

Acknowledgement

Special thanks go to Dr Ted Burkey of the University of Memphis for helpful comments.

Funding

This work was supported by the NSF [grant number HRD-1332459] and the American Chemical Society SEED program.

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed at 10.1080/2164232X.2014.883291.