Quantitative determination of tri-n-butyl phosphate by fluorescent X-ray spectrometry through inorganic association with an actinide

Abstract

Tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) continues to be the most widely used solvent in nuclear fuel extraction, refining and reprocessing units for the extraction of actinides and their separation from fission products. An X-ray fluorescence spectrometric method (XRFS) for the determination of TBP content with an X-ray detectable element is presented. The method involves formation of an ion association complex of uranium with TBP-kerosene mixture in 3M nitric acid. The analytes uranium and bromine used as internal ratio elements in organic extract are excited by a primary X-ray beam from a rhodium tube. The solvent concentration is determined from the ratioed characteristic intensities of uranium and bromine. The procedure permits the determination of organic solvent in the range 0.5 to 5.0% with a relative standard deviation of 0.1%.