细菌六价铬还原及吸附机制研究进展

六价铬[Hexavalent chromium,Cr(Ⅵ)]是一种致癌物,其毒性远大于三价铬,因此会对人体健康和生态环境造成危害。Cr(Ⅵ)污染场地中的细菌主要通过生物还原和生物吸附降低Cr(Ⅵ)的毒性和迁移能力。Cr(Ⅵ)还原细菌的抗性机制与还原过程已被多次讨论,但现有综述还缺乏细菌类别、铬酸盐还原酶活性与吸附机制的总结。因此,本文通过系统发育树展示常见Cr(Ⅵ)还原细菌的类别,归纳细菌的Cr(Ⅵ)还原机制,总结现阶段铬酸盐还原酶的酶活性参数与反应条件,并讨论环境影响因子对细菌Cr(Ⅵ)还原的影响。其次,本文综述了细菌对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附现象与机理。最后,本文对未来细菌修复Cr(Ⅵ)污染的机理研究进行了展望,以期加深对细菌Cr(Ⅵ)还原和吸附过程的了解。     

微生物修复返溶铬污染场地的研究进展

目前,我国历史遗留铬渣堆场多数采用湿法解毒工艺进行处理,但大量化学药剂的添加不仅增加了成本,引入了污染物,而且随时间的延长铬渣中的Cr(Ⅵ) 源源不断的返溶,场地出现返黄现象,形成二次污染。为了持久稳定的修复铬渣,研究人员提出用微生物修复技术处理湿法解毒后铬渣中Cr(Ⅵ) 的返溶。文中综述了国内外微生物修复铬渣污染场地的研究进展,首先简述了铬渣的危害、处理现状及传统的铬污染修复技术,并以湿法解毒铬污染为例,重点揭示了处理后铬渣中Cr(Ⅵ) 的返溶机理,由此可知湿法解毒后的二次污染不可避免。随后详述了微生物修复Cr(Ⅵ) 过程中生物还原、生物吸附和生物矿化三大作用机理,并阐述了铬污染场地修复过程中微生物物种的响应及群落结构的演替,最后,总结了微生物修复铬渣的研究进展并展望了未来的研究方向。     

铬还原菌的分离筛选及其在微生物燃料电池生物阴极中的应用

【目的】水溶性的Cr(Ⅵ)对环境及人类造成的危害是社会亟待解决的问题。Cr(Ⅵ)还原菌株的分离筛选、还原特性的分析和在微生物燃料电池中的应用为六价铬污染水体的微生物修复提供科学依据和新的方法。【方法】从黄河兰州段排污口采集样本,用平板法分离筛选获得具有Cr(Ⅵ)还原能力的菌株,并将Cr(Ⅵ)还原能力最强的LZU-26菌株应用到微生物燃料电池中,检测其产电能力和Cr(Ⅵ)还原特性。【结果】共分离得到21株具有Cr(Ⅵ)还原能力的菌株,其中LZU-26菌株Cr(Ⅵ)还原能力最强,属于Cellulosimicrobium cellilans。0.4 mmol/L初始Cr(Ⅵ)在LZU-26的作用下24 h铬还原率可达到95.89%,在48 h后达99.97%。将LZU-26运用在微生物燃料电池生物阴极,所获得的最大电压和最大功率密度分别为68 mV和6.8 W/cm~2。生物阴极Cr(Ⅵ)还原率(68.9%)也远高于化学阴极(14.7%)和对照组(2.7%)。【结论】利用Cr(Ⅵ)还原菌作为微生物燃料电池生物阴极处理含铬废水,将会是一种高效、节能和环境友好的方法。     

微生物氧化As(Ⅲ)和Sb(Ⅲ)的研究进展

砷(Arsenic,As)和锑(Antimony,Sb)属于同族元素,具有相似的化学性质,是公认的有毒类金属(Metalloid),广泛存在于自然界中。随着人类的发展,环境中砷和锑的污染日益严重,类金属污染环境的修复已经刻不容缓。现已表明,自然界中的微生物在砷和锑的生物地球化学循环中发挥着重要的作用,尤其是微生物的氧化作用,可以将毒性较强的亚砷酸盐[Arsenite,As(Ⅲ)]和亚锑酸盐[Antimonite,Sb(Ⅲ)]氧化为毒性较低的砷酸盐[Arsenate,As(V)]和锑酸盐[Antimonate,Sb(V)],被认为是一种潜在的类金属污染环境修复方法。本文就国内外对As(Ⅲ)氧化菌和Sb(Ⅲ)氧化菌的多样性、As(Ⅲ)和Sb(Ⅲ)微生物氧化调控机制和应用的研究进展进行总结,旨在为深入了解和探索微生物介导的砷和锑生物地球化学循环及污染环境的微生物修复提供参考。     

耐盐菌Staphylococcus sp. YZ-1和Bacillus cereus CC-1的Cr(VI)脱毒特性与机理

[背景]高盐含铬废水的去除过程中,Cr(Ⅵ)还原菌是研究者关注的重点,但目前对耐盐菌株的Cr(Ⅵ)脱毒特性及机理的分析仍较少。[目的]比较两株耐盐菌株的Cr(Ⅵ)移除特性,并区分Cr(Ⅵ)耐受机制的差异;通过基因组测序分析,从基因层面推测铬耐受相关基因;构建铬还原菌的混菌体系,考察两者对去除污染物的协同作用。[方法]从青海茶卡盐湖分离耐盐菌Staphylococcus sp.YZ-1,与Bacillus cereus CC-1进行基础特性和Cr(Ⅵ)去除性能的比较,并通过全基因组序列的分析验证特性测试的结果。[结果]两株菌都具有铬移除特性,但CC-1的铬移除效率更高,在初始Cr(Ⅵ)浓度为0.1 mmol/L情况下,CC-1能在12h内移除95.3%的Cr(Ⅵ),而YZ-1只能移除40.1%。在进一步实验中发现YZ-1只能对Cr(Ⅵ)进行还原,将其转化为可溶的有机态Cr(Ⅲ),而CC-1能同时对Cr(Ⅵ)进行还原和吸附。全基因组分析发现YZ-1具有编码外排泵蛋白的基因和编码NAD(P)H氧化还原酶的基因,而CC-1具有编码铬转运蛋白ChrA和细胞色素C氧化还原酶的基因。两株菌的混菌体系在处理含Cr(Ⅵ)、Te(Ⅳ)的废水时,菌群能将还原产物聚集成团并沉淀到底部。[结论]菌株YZ-1和CC-1均为耐盐铬还原菌,但YZ-1中的铬还原酶为诱导型酶,CC-1则为组成型酶。基因组数据分析鉴别出两者可能同时存在多种铬耐受机制相关编码基因。混合菌群可以结合YZ-1的自絮凝特性和两者均有的Te(Ⅳ)/Cr(Ⅵ)还原活性,具有潜在的实用价值。     

异化铁还原细菌LQ25还原重金属Cr(Ⅵ)的特性研究

【背景】异化铁还原细菌能够在还原Fe(Ⅲ)的同时将毒性较大的Cr(Ⅵ)还原成毒性较小的Cr(Ⅲ),解决铬污染的问题。【目的】基于丁酸梭菌(Clostridiumbutyricum)LQ25异化铁还原过程制备生物磁铁矿,开展异化铁还原细菌还原Cr(Ⅵ)的特性研究。【方法】构建以氢氧化铁为电子受体和葡萄糖为电子供体的异化铁培养体系。菌株LQ25培养结束时制备生物磁铁矿。设置不同初始Cr(Ⅵ)浓度(5、10、15、25和30mg/L),分别测定菌株LQ25对Cr(Ⅵ)还原效率以及生物磁铁矿对Cr(Ⅵ)的还原效率。【结果】菌株LQ25在设置的Cr(Ⅵ)浓度范围内都能良好生长。当Cr(Ⅵ)浓度为15 mg/L时,在异化铁培养条件下,菌株LQ25对Cr(Ⅵ)的还原率为63.45%±5.13%,生物磁铁矿对Cr(Ⅵ)的还原率为87.73%±9.12%,相比菌株还原Cr(Ⅵ)的效率提高38%。pH变化能影响生物磁铁矿对Cr(Ⅵ)的还原率,当pH2.0时,生物磁铁矿对Cr(Ⅵ)的还原率最高,几乎达到100%。电子显微镜观察发现生物磁铁矿表面有许多孔隙,X-射线衍射图谱显示生物磁铁矿中Fe(II)的存在形式是Fe(OH)_2。【结论】基于异化铁还原细菌制备生物磁铁矿可用于还原Cr(Ⅵ),这是一种有效去除Cr(Ⅵ)的途径。     

食物相铬在豹纹鳃棘鲈鱼不同脑区的生物累积

为研究食物来源的铬(Cr)在鱼脑部生物累积的情况, 用含有不同浓度(0、10、50和250 mg/kg)不同形态及价态Cr[有机Cr为吡啶甲酸铬CrPic, 无机Cr为CrCl₃和K₂Cr₂O₇(Cr(Ⅲ); Cr(Ⅵ)]的饲料投喂豹纹鳃棘鲈(Plectropomus. leopardus)幼鱼66d, 并以原子吸收光谱法(AAS)在第7、第12、第18、第40和第66天取样测定幼鱼的下丘脑、前脑、中脑和后脑区域中Cr生物累积量。结果表明, 食物中铬在幼鱼4种脑组织中的累积量普遍在暴露前期(7—40d)显著增加, 而在最后一个时期(66d)显著减少。但是, 总铬的生物蓄积量在4种脑区并未以剂量和时间依赖性方式存在。此外, 在相同浓度和时间条件下, 不同铬源CrPic、Cr(Ⅲ)和Cr(Ⅵ)的处理, 总铬在不同脑区的含量基本呈现CrPic > Cr(Ⅲ) > Cr(Ⅲ)的规律, 具有明显的组织差异性。研究发现食物来源的Cr在鱼类等水生动物大脑不同脑区的累积与Cr不同形态、价态和浓度紧密相关, 为进一步评估食物中的Cr对中枢神经系统毒性作用及其毒理机制奠定基础。     

抗砷性微生物及其抗砷分子机制研究进展

砷(Arsenic, As)是一种剧毒类金属(Metalloid), 在自然环境中主要以三价亚砷酸盐[Arsenite, AsO2-, As(III)]和五价砷酸盐[Arsenate, AsO43-, As(V)]的无机形式广泛存在。许多微生物在含砷环境的长期适应过程中, 进化了多种不同的砷解毒抗性机制。目前研究发现主要存在4种类型的砷抗性机理, 包括: As(III)氧化, 细胞质As(V)还原, 呼吸性As(V)还原, As(III)甲基化, 这些机制赋予微生物砷抗性并在砷的转化和地球化学循环中起着极     

微生物氧化As(III)和Sb(III)的研究进展

砷(Arsenic,As)和锑(Antimony,Sb)属于同族元素,具有相似的化学性质,是公认的有毒类金属(metalloid),广泛存在于自然界中。随着人类的发展,环境中砷和锑的污染日益严重,类金属污染环境的修复已经刻不容缓。现已表明,自然界中的微生物在砷和锑的生物地球化学循环中发挥着重要的作用,尤其是微生物的氧化作用,可以将毒性较强的亚砷酸盐[Arsenite,As(III)]和亚锑酸盐[Antimonite,Sb(III)]氧化为毒性较低的砷酸盐[Arsenate,As(V)]和锑酸盐[Antimonate,Sb(V)],被认为是一种潜在的类金属污染环境修复方法。本文就国内外对As(III)氧化菌和Sb(III)氧化菌的多样性、As(III)和Sb(III)微生物氧化调控机制和应用的研究进展进行总结,旨在为深入了解和探索微生物介导的砷和锑生物地球化学循环及污染环境的微生物修复提供参考。     

水环境中Cr(Ⅵ)对鱼类毒性机理研究进展

随着工业,特别是不锈钢产业的迅速发展,环境中的铬污染问题日益严重,Cr(Ⅵ)能够很容易地透过细胞膜进入细胞和生物体内,其毒性远高于Cr(Ⅲ).铬作为变价金属,其在鱼类体内能够产生活性氧自由基(ROS),对机体产生氧化胁迫效应;此外,Cr(Ⅵ)在细胞还原作用下生成的中间产物\[Cr(Ⅴ)、Cr(Ⅳ)等\]会进一步和DNA结合,导致基因的损伤和突变,从而危害鱼类的生长发育和种群结构.本文在不同水平上,系统总结了Cr(Ⅵ)对鱼类的毒性效应,从多个层次(分子、细胞、组织、器官、个体）阐述了Cr(Ⅵ)的毒性作用机制和鱼类相应的毒性解毒机制,并对于Cr(Ⅵ)的毒性研究中尚不完全清楚、需要深入考察的方面进行了探讨.     

Interactions of chromium with microorganisms and plants

Chromium is a highly toxic non-essential metal for microorganisms and plants. Due to its widespread industrial use, chromium (Cr) has become a serious pollutant in diverse environmental settings. The hexavalent form of the metal, Cr(VI), is considered a more toxic species than the relatively innocuous and less mobile Cr(III) form. The presence of Cr in the environment has selected microbial and plant variants able to tolerate high levels of Cr compounds. The diverse Cr-resistance mechanisms displayed by microorganisms, and probably by plants, include biosorption, diminished accumulation, precipitation, reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III), and chromate efflux. Some of these systems have been proposed as potential biotechnological tools for the bioremediation of Cr pollution. In this review we summarize the interactions of bacteria, algae, fungi and plants with Cr and its compounds.     

Cr(III) exerts stronger structural effects than Cr(VI) on the human erythrocyte membrane and molecular models

Chromium exists in many oxidation states, of which only the hexavalent Cr(VI) and the trivalent Cr(III) ions are stable under environmental conditions. It is generally reported that Cr(VI) is highly toxic while Cr(III) is relatively innocuous, although others have reported just the opposite. On the other hand, despite the many studies on chromium toxicity, and particularly after the knowledge that Cr(VI) anions readily enter the erythrocytes where they are reduced to Cr(III), there are practically no reports on the structural effects induced by chromium compounds on the erythrocyte membrane. With the aim to better understand the molecular mechanisms of the interaction of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) with cell membranes, CrCl(3), and K(2)CrO(4) were incubated with intact erythrocytes, isolated unsealed human erythrocyte membranes (IUM), and molecular models of the erythrocyte membrane. These consisted in bilayers built-up of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPE), phospholipid classes present in the outer and inner monolayers of the erythrocyte membrane, respectively. The capacity of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) to perturb the bilayer structures of DMPC and DMPE was evaluated by X-ray diffraction, DMPC large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) and IUM were studied by fluorescence spectroscopy, and intact human erythrocytes were observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In all these systems, it was found that Cr(III) induced considerably higher structural perturbations than Cr(VI).     

Genotoxicity of Tri- and Hexavalent Chromium Compounds In Vivo and Their Modes of Action on DNA Damage In Vitro

Chromium occurs mostly in tri- and hexavalent states in the environment. Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] compounds are extensively used in diverse industries, and trivalent chromium [Cr(III)] salts are used as micronutrients and dietary supplements. In the present work, we report that they both induce genetic mutations in yeast cells. They both also cause DNA damage in both yeast and Jurkat cells and the effect of Cr(III) is greater than that of Cr(VI). We further show that Cr(III) and Cr(VI) cause DNA damage through different mechanisms. Cr(VI) intercalates DNA and Cr(III) interferes base pair stacking. Based on our results, we conclude that Cr(III) can directly cause genotoxicity in vivo.     

Isolation of hexavalent chromium-reducing anaerobes from hexavalent-chromium-contaminated and noncontaminated environments

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], is a toxic, water-soluble contaminant present in many soils and industrial effluents. Bacteria from various soils were examined for Cr(VI) resistance and reducing potential. Microbes selected from both Cr(VI)-contaminated and-noncontaminated soils and sediments were capable of catalyzing the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) a less toxic, less water-soluble form of Cr, demonstrating the utility of using a selection strategy for indigenous Cr(VI)-reducing bacteria in a bioprocess. As a result, indigenous Cr(VI)- reducing microbes from contaminated sites should provide the means for developing a bioprocess to reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in nonsterile effluents such as those from soil washes. This approach also avoids the contamination problems associated with pure cultures of allochthonous microorganisms. In addition the apparent ubiquity of Cr(VI)-reducing bacteria in soil and sediments indicates potential for in situ bioremediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated soils and ground water.     

Low temperature reduction of hexavalent chromium by a microbial enrichment consortium and a novel strain of Arthrobacter aurescens

Background  

Chromium is a transition metal most commonly found in the environment in its trivalent [Cr(III)] and hexavalent [Cr(VI)] forms. The EPA maximum total chromium contaminant level for drinking water is 0.1 mg/l (0.1 ppm). Many water sources, especially underground sources, are at low temperatures (less than or equal to 15 Centigrade) year round. It is important to evaluate the possibility of microbial remediation of Cr(VI) contamination using microorganisms adapted to these low temperatures (psychrophiles).     

Bioremediation of chromium contaminated environments

Bioremediation is the most promising and cost effective technology widely used nowadays to clean up both soils and wastewaters containing organic or inorganic contaminants. Discharge of chromium containing wastes has led to destruction of many agricultural lands and water bodies. Utilisation of chromium(Cr) reducing microbes and their products has enhanced the efficiency of the process of detoxification of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). This review focuses mainly on the current technologies prevalent for remediation like natural attenuation, anaerobic packed bed bioreactors (using live cells, Cr(VI) reductases or their byproducts) and use of engineered microorganisms. Treatment of wastewaters by biosorption or using biofilms and immobilized microbial cells are also discussed.     

Chromium and human low-density lipoprotein oxidation

Chromium is a catalytic metal able to foster oxidant damage, albeit its capacity to induce human LDL oxidation is to date unkown. Thus, we have investigated whether trivalent and hexavalent chromium, namely Cr(III) and Cr(VI), can induce human LDL oxidation. Cr(III) as CrCl₃ is incapable of inducing LDL oxidation at pH 7.4 or 4.5. However, Cr(III), specifically at physiological pH of 7.4 and in the presence of phosphates, causes an absorbance increase at 234 resembling a spectrophotometric kinetics of LDL oxidation with a lag- and propagation-like phase. In this regard, it is conceivable that peculiar Cr(III) forms such as Cr(III) hydroxide and, especially, Cr(III) polynuclear hydroxocomplexes formed at pH 7.4 interact with phosphates generating species with an intrinsic absorbance at 234 nm, which increases over time resembling a spectrophotometric kinetics of LDL oxidation. Cr(VI), as K₂Cr₂O₇, can instead induce substantial human LDL oxidation at acidic pH such as 4.5, which is typical of the intracellular lysosomal compartment. LDL oxidation is related to binding of Cr(VI) to LDL particles with quenching of the LDL tryptophan fluorescence, and it is inhibited by the metal chelators EDTA and deferoxamine, as well as by the chain-breaking antioxidants butylated hydroxytoluene and probucol. Moreover, Cr(VI)-induced LDL oxidation is inhibited by mannitol conceivably by binding Cr(V) formed from LDL-dependent Cr(VI) reduction and not by scavenging hydroxyl radicals (OH); indeed, the OH scavengers sodium formate and ethanol are ineffective against Cr(VI)-induced LDL oxidation. Notably, heightened LDL lipid hydroperoxide levels and decreased LDL tryptophan fluorescence occur in Cr plating workers, indicating Cr-induced human LDL oxidation in vivo. The biochemical, pathophysiological and clinical implications of these novel findings on chromium and human LDL oxidation are discussed.     

Characterization and oxidation of chromium(III) by sodium hypochlorite in alkaline solutions

Chromium exists in nuclear waste sludges and is a problematic element in the vitrification process of high-level nuclear wastes. It is therefore necessary to treat the waste sludges to remove chromium prior to vitrification, by caustic leaching or oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI). The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of oligomerization of Cr(III) on its oxidation by hypochlorite in alkaline solutions.Monomeric, dimeric and trimeric Cr(III) species in solution were separated by ion exchange. The kinetics of the oxidation of the separated species by hypochlorite in alkaline solutions was studied by UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, and compared with the oxidation by hydrogen peroxide previously studied. Results indicate that hypochlorite can oxidize Cr(III) to Cr(VI) in alkaline solutions, but the rate of oxidation by hypochlorite is slower than that by hydrogen peroxide at the same alkalinity and concentrations of oxidants. The rate of oxidation of Cr(III) by both oxidants decreases as the concentration of sodium hydroxide is increased, but the oxidation by hypochlorite seems less affected by the degree of oligomerization of Cr(III) than that by peroxide. Compared with the oxidation by hydrogen peroxide where the major reaction pathway has an inverse order with respect to C_NaOH, the oxidation by hypochlorite has a significant reaction pathway independent of [OH⁻].     

Detoxification and accumulation of chromium from tannery effluent and spent chrome effluent by Paecilomyces lilacinus fungi

The tannery industry process involves chromium (Cr) salts as a main constituent of the process. The Cr recovery is a part of the process where other salts are used to achieve separation and recovery for using Cr back in the process. The process steps may contain both forms of Cr [Cr(VI): hexavalent and Cr(III): trivalent]. The recovery of Cr from tannery industry effluent through biological systems is much needed. The diverse physicochemical characteristics of these effluents may limit the growth of microorganisms and hence the limitation towards possible practical application of microorganisms in real industrial effluent conditions. The present study attempted the ability of the Cr-resistant fungus Paecilomyces lilacinus [isolated through an enrichment culture technique at 25 000 mg l⁻¹ of Cr(III)] to grow and remove Cr [Cr(VI) and Cr(III)] from two physicochemically different undiluted tannery industry effluents (tannery effluent and spent chrome effluent) in the presence of cane sugar as a carbon source. Such attempts are made keeping in view the potential integration of biological processes in the overall Cr removal and recovery processes to improve its efficiency and environmental sustainability. The fungus has broad pH tolerance range and can reduce Cr(VI) both in acidic (pH 5.5) and alkaline (pH 8.0) conditions. The fungus showed the ability to remove Cr(VI) (1.24 mg l⁻¹) and total Cr (7.91 mg l⁻¹) from tannery effluent below the detection level within 18 h and 36 h of incubation, respectively, and ability to accumulate 189.13 mg Cr g⁻¹ of dry biomass within 600 h of incubation from spent chrome effluent [containing 3731.4 mg l⁻¹ of initial Cr(III) concentration].At 200 mg l⁻¹ of Cr(VI) in growth media, with 100% detoxification and with only 10.54% of total Cr accumulation in the biomass, P. lilacinus showed Cr(VI) reduction as a major mechanism of Cr(VI) detoxification. The time-course study revealed the log phase of the growth for the maximum specific reduction of Cr(VI) and stationary phase of the growth for its maximum specific accumulation of both the forms of Cr [Cr(III) and Cr(VI)] in its biomass. In growth media at 50 mg l⁻¹ and 200 mg l⁻¹ of Cr(VI), P. lilacinus showed 100% reduction within 36 h and 120 h of incubation, respectively. The high degree of positive correlation and statistically high degree of relationship (r² = 0.941) between the fungal growth and % Cr(VI) reduction by the fungus support the role of metabolically active cellular growth in Cr(VI) reduction by the fungus. Results indicate that expanded solid (sludge) retention times (SRTs) (stationary phase) can be recommended for the removal of Cr(III) through accumulation. In case of Cr(VI), reduction needs a priority; therefore, a non-expanded SRT is recommended for designing a continuous-flow completely stirred bioreactor so that a log phase of cellular growth can be maintained during the reduction process. This study reveals the strong potential of P. lilacinus fungi for the removal of Cr from tannery effluent and spent chrome effluent.     

Speciation and Environmental Fate of Chromium in Rivers Contaminated with Tannery Effluents

Redox and size speciation of chromium in rivers contaminated with tannery wastewater was carried out to provide insight into its transport and removal mechanisms. Total chromium was determined with Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Mass Spectrometry and Cr (VI) with Catalytic Adsorption Stripping Voltammetry. For the size speciation, particles were retained with a cartridge filter (cut‐off 1.2 μm) and the total filterable fraction was further fractionated with Tangential Flow Filtration to determine the concentrations of chromium associated with the High Molecular Weight Colloidal (HMWC), Low Molecular Weight Colloidal (LMWC) and Truly Dissolved (TD) fractions. Two fluvial systems of similar sizes, but located in contrasting climatic zones, were selected for comparison: the Sebou‐Fez system in Morocco and Dunajec River‐Czorsztyn Reservoir system in Poland. Particulate Cr dominated in the Sebou‐Fez system (about 90 %); while in the Dunajec‐Czorsztyn system, it represented only 17–53 % of the total chromium in raw water. Still, the partition coefficients [K_d] were of the same magnitude. Chromium (III) was the only form detected in Sebou‐Fez, whereas in Dunajec‐Czorsztyn Cr (VI) was also present with its proportion increasing downstream from the input of tannery wastewater due to the preferential removal of Cr (III). In the filtered water in Morocco a large fraction of Cr occurred in the HMWC fraction (50–70 %) at the two most contaminated sites, while the LMWC and TD forms prevailed at the non‐contaminated sites in the Sebou River. At a very high concentration, in the water in the proximity of tanneries (well above the theoretical saturation level) Cr precipitated as polynuclear Cr‐hydroxide. In Dunajec‐Czorsztyn, the partition of Cr (III) was approximately equal between the HMWC, LMWC and TD fractions, in contrast to Cr (VI) which occurred almost exclusively in the TD fraction. In both systems, Cr (III) was rapidly removed from the water to the sediments. The confluence of the Sebou with the Fez and the Czorsztyn reservoir trapped efficiently Cr (III) preventing its spreading over long distances. Cr (VI) showed conservative behavior and bypassed the Czorsztyn Reservoir. This study provides a first set of data on the partitioning of Cr (III) and Cr (VI) between the particulate, the colloidal and truly dissolved fractions in fluvial systems contaminated with tannery effluents. It also suggests that, in these systems, truly dissolved Cr (III) can be adequately modeled from the total filterable concentrations.