Abstract: A greyish blue resinous substance was separated by adding Cr³⁺ to a basic aqueous solution of 5% PVA at 12≤pH≤13. The formation of the resinous substance has been studied by XPS,ESR, IR and electrophoretie techniques. It is considered that at the experimental conditions deprotonation of some hydroxyl groups in the PVA may afford a ligand L^- which may form coordinate with Cr³⁺ through partial ionic bond. Thus,it results in a cross-linking between Cr³⁺ and deprotonated hydroxyl groups of PVA. The product is paramagnetic. This phenomena may be applied to treating Cr³⁺ containing waste for chromium recovery by dissolving the complex in hydrochloric acid.

Key words: polyvinyl alcohol, chromium ion, coordination polymer