Redox determination of uranium in presence of plutonium in low phosphoric acid medium and the recovery of plutonium

Quantitative determination of uranium in (U, Pu)O₂ fuels is usually done by the DAVIES-GRAY method. High concentrations of phosphoric acid in the analytical waste generated by this method make the revocery of plutonium rather complex. Studies on the recovery of plutonium from nitric acid medium containing different concentrations of H₃PO₄ by conventional anion-exchange procedure reveal that more than 90% of the plutonium can be easily recovered when the phosphoric acid concentration is less than 0.5 M in the solution. A method was developed for the determination of uranium in the presence of plutonium, which involves the reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) by Fe(II) in a medium of 3.5M H₃PO₄ +4.5M H₂SO₄ instead of 10–11M H₃PO₄ so as to have the H₃PO₄ concentration 0.6M in the waste. A number of determinations of uranium in UO₂(NO₃)₂ working standard solutions and (U, Pu) synthetic solutions with uranium at the 3–7 mg level were carried out by this method. The precision obtained was better than ±0.2% and the accuracy was also within the precision limits. The resulting analytical waste generated was directly subjected to anion exchange separation for the recovery of plutonium which was found to be more than 90%.     

A gravimetric and an X-ray fluorescence method for the determination of rubidium in Rb2U(SO4)3

Chemical characterization of rubidium uranium(IV) trisulfate, Rb₂U(SO₄)₃, a new chemical assay standard for uranium requires accurate analysis of rubidium. A gravimetric and an X-ray fluorescence method (XRF) for the determination of rubidium in this compound are described. In the gravimetric method, rubidium is determined as Rb₂Na[Co(NO₂)₆].H₂O without separating uranium with a precision of the order of ±0.5%. In the XRF method, the concentration ratio of rubidium to uranium, C_Rb/C_U, is determined in the solid samples by the binary ratio method using calibration between intensity ratios (I_Rb/I_U) and concentration ratios (C_Rb/C_U). The concentration of rubidium is derived using the uranium value which is known with a precision better than ±0.05%. The XRF method has a precision better than ±0.8% for rubidium determination.     

The gravimetric determination of uranium in uranyl nitrate

A study of the factors which affect the gravimetric determination of uranium in uranyl nitrate is described. In the gravimetry of uranium, the U₃O₈ (weighing form) produced by ignition is usually assumed to deviate <0.02% from theoretical composition; and elemental impurities are assumed to form common oxides within the U₃0₈ matrix. It is shown that these assumptions are incorrect. Ignition temperature and time affect U₃O₈ stoichiometry. Ignitions of uranyl nitrate for 1–3 h at 850° produce U₃O₈ that deviates as much as 0.15% from stoichiometric U₃O₈; deviations are negligible when uranyl nitrate is ignited at 1000° for 2 h. Elemental impurities, particularly calcium and phosphorus, affect the composition of U₃O₈ formed in the ignition of uranyl nitrate. A variety of impurity complexes such as uranates and phosphates are found within the U₃O₈ matrix. Formation of these impurity complexes depends on the elements present, their concentration, and ignition temperature. Therefore, in the gravimetric determination of uranium in uranyl nitrate, the effects of ignition parameters and nonvolatile impurities must be considered in order to obtain accurate uranium determinations.     

Biamperometric methodology for sequential determination of thorium and uranium

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 %.     

Determination of uranium in wet phosphoric acid by extraction with octylphenylphosphoric acid

A method for quantitative determination of uranium in phosphoric acid and wet phosphoric acid has been developed. After reduction with Fe, uranium(IV) is extracted with a kerosene solution of octylphenylphosphoric acid. The uranium was stripped with 10M H₃PO₄, containing H₂O₂, and then determined spectrophotometrically with Arsenazo III and by direct uranium(IV)-phosphoric acid solution measurements.     

A modified method for the determination of uranium in Nb/Ta minerals by LED fluorimetry

A modified LED fluorimetry determination of uranium in Nb/Ta minerals has been developed. The mineral is brought into solution by fusion with mixed phosphate flux (NaH₂PO₄, H₂O and Na₂HPO₄). Iron quenches uranium fluorescence when it is present above the ratio of (iron to uranium) 100. Uranium is separated in ethyl acetate by solvent extraction and then stripped back into pyrophosphate buffer (pH ~ 7) prior to its LED fluorimetry determination. This modified method has been applied for the determination of uranium in synthetic mixtures and Nb/Ta minerals including Certified Reference Materials (X1807) with high degree of accuracy and precision.

     

A rapid volumetric method for the determination of beryllium in beryls and associated minerals

A new volumetric method has been proposed for the determination of beryllium in beryls and associated minerals. The method involves the direct precipitation of beryllium as BeNH₄PO₄.6H₂O in presence of complexone II, dissolving the precipitate in dilute perchloric acid and titrating the liberated phosphate with standard bismuthyl perchlorate. Results for samples agree within ± 0.2% of the standard values.     

Comparison of fluorescence-enhancing reagents and optimization of laser fluorimetric technique for the determination of dissolved uranium

Results from tests aimed at optimizing an instrumental procedure for the direct and fast determination of uranium in solution by laser fluorescence are presented. A comparison of sample fluorescence measured using different fluorescence enhancing reagents was performed: sodium pyrophosphate, orthophosphoric acid, sulphuric acid and a commercially available fluorescence enhancer were tested for the determination of uranium. From the experimental results, 0.01 M Na₄P₂O₇·10H₂O showed the best performance. Effects of reagent pH, different matrices, different concentrations of dissolved Th, and sample volume were investigated. Applications of the improved procedure for the determination of uranium in samples arising from UO₂-based high level nuclear waste dissolution studies are described.     

Direct determination of uranium in sintered deeply depleted uranium oxide pellets by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

This paper presents studies on direct non-destructive determination of uranium in sintered deeply depleted (DD) uranium oxide (UO₂) pellets by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometry. A special collet was designed and fabricated for holding the sintered DDUO₂ pellets for direct analysis, thus avoiding the sample preparation steps. The samples were analyzed using a calibration plot obtained from WDXRF spectra of matrix matched calibration standards. The WDXRF determined uranium values were found to be in very close agreement with titrimetric values and has reproducibility better than 0.05% (RSD, 1 s, n = 10) for the sintered DDUO₂ pellets having U: 86.81–88.04 wt%.

     

The accurate determination of cobalt: Gravimetric methods and in particular the phosphate method

Some gravimetric methods for determining cobalt have been examined in order to assess their value for the accurate determination of the metal. The electrolytic method was found to give high results (about 1.4%), and the anthranilate method slightly high results (0.2 – 0.3%). A modification of the phosphate method has been developed in which a former drawback, the solubility of CoNH₄PO₄·H₂O, has been overcome using a rapid spectrophotometric determination of residual cobalt. The final procedure developed has been found to give accurate results ( ±0.1 – 0.2%) and its use is recommended where this degree of accuracy is required.     

Neutron activation determination of uranium by coprecipitation of neptunium-239 on zirconium phosphate

A method is proposed for neutron activation determination of U via²³⁹Np. This is separated by coprecipitation of ZrO(H₂PO₄)₂ and its 106 keV γ-peak measured. The sensitivity of the determination is 10⁻⁹ g. The method is based on the well-known ability of Np(IV) to coprecipitate with zirconium phosphate, while Np(VI) does not form insoluble phosphates or fluorides. This permits elimination of elements interfering, with the determination of²³⁹Np via the 106 keV γ-peak: Sm, Nd, Yb, Lu, Pa (from Th) and Ta. The rare earths are eliminated by coprecipitation on LaF₃, and Pa and Ta as insoluble phosphates in an oxidizing medium. The method is suitable for phosphorus-containing samples: phosphorites, apatites and their industrial treatment products. The results obtained for the uranium content with the proposed method are in good agreement with the results of other methods and authors.     

Fluorimetric estimation of U(VI) in the presence of a large excess of Th(IV)

A fluorescence based method has been developed for the determination of trace amounts of uranium in thorium matrix using a mixture of phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), as fluorescence enhancing reagent for uranyl (UO₂ ²⁺) ion fluorescence. Synthetic samples mimicking the composition of ThO₂ fuel were prepared and the concentration of U(VI) was estimated. Satisfactory results are obtained when uranium is present at a concentration of 10 ppm in solid thorium samples with good precision.     

Determination of plutonium and uranium in the same aliquot by potentiometric titration

A potentiometric titration method was developed for the determination of plutonium and uranium in the same aliquot in nitric acid medium. Plutonium was first determined by oxidation to Pu/VI/ by fuming with conc. HClO₄. Pu/VI/ formed was reduced to Pu/IV/ with known excess of Fe/II/ and the excess Fe/II/ was titrated with standard K₂Cr₂O₇ to a potentiometric end point. Uranium in the same solution was determined by reduction to U/IV/ with Fe/II/ in conc. H₃PO₄ medium and titrating U/IV/ formed with standard K₂Cr₂O₇ using the potentiometric end point detection technique. For the quantity of plutonium and uranium each in the range of 3–5 mg per aliquot a precision of ±0.2% and ±0.4%, respectively, was obtained.     

The use of cerium(IV) phosphate for the gravimetric determination and separation of cerium

A method for the gravimetric determination of cerium as Ce₃(PO₄)₄ is described. Cerium can be separated from many metals in this form, as well as from permanganate and dichromate; the cerium separated can then be titrated with iron(II) solution. The method was verified for the determination of cerium in a rare earth concentrate.     

Potentiometric determination of uranium in the presence of plutonium in H2SO4 medium

The potentiometric determination of uranium is widely carried out in phosphoric acid medium to suppress the interferences of plutonium by complexation. Owing to the complexity of the recycling plutonium from the phosphate based waste involving manifold stages of separation, a method has been proposed in the present paper which does not use phosphoric acid. Uranium and plutonium are reduced to U/IV/ and Pu/III/ in 1M H₂SO₄ by Ti/III/, and NaNO₂ is chosen to selectively oxidize Pu/III/ and the excess of Ti/III/. The unreacted NaNO₂ is destroyed by sulphamic acid and excess Fe/III/ is added following dilution. The equivalent amount of Fe/II/ thus liberated is titrated against standard K₂Cr₂O₇. R.S.D. obtained for the determination of uranium /1–2 mg/ is 0.3% with plutonium being present upto 4.0 mg.     

Thermally stimulated luminescence and electron paramagnetic resonance studies on uranium doped calcium phosphate

Thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies on uranium doped calcium phosphate yielded mechanistic information on the observed glow peaks at 365, 410 and 450 K. TSL spectral studies of the glow peaks showed that UO₂ ²⁺ acts as the luminescent center. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies on gamma-irradiated samples revealed that the predominant radiation induced centers are H⁰, PO₄ ^2-, PO₃ ^2- and O^- ion. Studies on the temperature dependence studies of the EPR spectra of samples annealed to different temperatures indicate the role of H⁰ and PO₄ ^2- ions in the main glow peak at 410 K.     

On the uranium content in some technogenic products potential environmental pollutants

The uranium contents in phosphorites from North Africa, products of their processing (H₃PO₄, superphosphates, phosphogypsum), lignites from South Bulgaria and products of their burning, copper ores and concentrates have been determined by instrumental and radiochemical NAA. An evaluation of the contribution of the phosphoric fertilizers to the uranium content of soil, plants, breeding stock and man has been done.     

1-(o-Carboxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-3-phenyltriazene,a new reagent for the direct gravimetric determination of titanium(IV)

A direct gravimetric method for the determination of titanium with a new reagent, 1-(o-carboxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-3-phenyltriazene, is proposed. The titanium is precipitated at the pH range 2.0–5.0 and weighed as TiO(C₁₃H₁₀N₃O₃)₂ after drying at 115–120°. In the presence of EDTA, only niobium and tantalum interfere.     

Extraction and spectrophotometric determination of uranium in phosphate fertilizers

An extraction and spectrophotometric method for determination of trace amounts of uranium in phosphate fertilizers is described. It is based on the extraction of uranium with trioctylphosphine oxide in benzene and the spectrophotometric determination of uranium with Arsenazo III in buffer-alcoholic medium. The maximum absorbance occurs at 655 nm with a molar absorptivity of 1.2·10⁴ l·mol^–1·cm^–1. Beer's law is obeyed over the range 0.6–15.0 g·ml^–1 of uranium(VI). The proposed method has been applied successfully to the analysis of phosphate fertilizers with phosphate concentrations of 45% P₂O₅.     

A new route for simple and rapid determination of hydrogen peroxide in RAW264.7 macrophages by microchip electrophoresis

A new method using MCE with LIF detection was developed for the determination of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Bis(p‐methylbenzenesulfonyl)dichlorofluorescein, a new fluorogenic reagent synthesized by our laboratory was employed as a labeling reagent, the derivatization reaction was performed in 0.10 M HEPES buffer (pH 7.4) for 30 min at 37°C. The detection of H₂O₂ was accomplished in 55 s, using a 40 mM HEPES buffer, 20% mannitol, pH 7.4, on a glass microchip. The RSDs of migration time and peak area were 1.8 and 3.7%, respectively. Method validation showed the linear response ranging from 0.50 to 50 μM with an LOD (S/N=3) of 0.20 μM (19.1 amol). The proposed method was applied to determine H₂O₂ in phorbol myristate acetate‐stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, the concentration of H₂O₂ was found to be 1.86±0.05 μM; recoveries for macrophage samples were from 96.7 to 97.8%, within‐days and between‐days accuracies were 4.5% (n=5) and 6.8% (n=5), respectively.