The following Sigma-Aldrich reagents were used: potassium dichromate (Cr(VI)), formic acid, nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium hypochlorite. Stock standard solution of chromium (1000 mg/L) was from Sigma and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) internal standard mix was from Agilent Technologies.
Hoagland's nutrient solution containing calcium nitrate 0.35 mM, calcium chloride 2.1 mM, magnesium sulfate 0.91 mM, monobasic potassium phosphate 0.97 mM, potassium nitrate 1.22 mM, boric acid 23 μM, manganese chloride 3.9 μM, molybdenum trioxide 23 μM, ferric nitrate 10 μM, zinc nitrate 0.6 μM, and copper sulfate 0.44 μM, pH 5.8, was prepared from Sigma reagents [22 ].
Sunflower seeds (Helianthus annuus L.) were purchased at a local garden market as a product of Vita company, distributed in Mexico by Rancho de Molinos, S.A. de C.V.