Highly accurate determination of trace amounts of uranium in standard reference materials by spectrophotometry with chlorophosphonazo III after complete separation by anion and cation exchange chromatography

Abstract

A method is described for the highly accurate determination of trace amounts of uranium in standard reference materials. The uranium is separated from the bulk elements by anion-exchange chromatography, eluting most elements with 6 M hydrochloric acid and iron(III) with 0.5 M hydrochloric acid in 90% acetone. After elution of uranium with 0.1 M hydrochloric acid, residual traces of other elements are separated by a very selective cation-exchange procedure using a 3 g resin column. Finally the uranium is determined in the hexavalent state by spectrophotometry at 672 nm of its complex with chlorophosphonazo III at pH 1.1±0.2 in the presence of DTPA. Results are very accurate and precise even on a semi-routine basis. Relevant elution curves and results are presented for recovery tests and for the analysis of the 10 South African UREM standard materials.