Biamperometric methodology for sequential determination of thorium and uranium

Abstract

A biamperometric methodology for the sequential determination of thorium (Th) and uranium (U) was developed. In the sample solution containing Th and U, Th was first determined by complexometric titration based on the electrochemical behaviour of EDTA maintaining a potential of ≥200 mV between the twin Pt electrodes. This was followed by the redox titrimetric determination of U employing biamperometry to detect the end point. Prior to the determination of U, EDTA was destroyed by fuming with concentrated HClO4 to eliminate its interference in the U determination. The method was tested for the determination of Th and U in (Th, U) O2 samples containing 4 mg of Th and 2–8 mg of U, with precision and accuracy of better than 0.3 %.