Monitoring of Trace Amounts of Chromium in Ordinary Portland Cement Using X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure Analysis

Abstract

Trace amounts of chromium (-6.4mass ppm of Cr(VI) and 58.4mass ppm of total Cr) in ordinary Portland cement was monitored in hydration process using XAFS (X-ray absorption fine structure). Our XAFS data indicated the hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in cement was decreased as the hydration of cement proceeds. Little divalent iron contained in cement was assumed to act as a reducing agent, and a technique to prevent the elution of chromium was proposed in this connection.