Direct determination of uranium in seawater by laser fluorimetry

A method for estimation of uranium in seawater by using steady state laser flourimetry is described. Uranium present in seawater, in concentration of approximately 3 ng ml⁻¹ was estimated without prior separation of matrix. Quenching effect of major ions (Cl⁻, Na⁺, SO₄⁻, Mg⁺, Ca⁺, K⁺, HCO₃⁻, Br⁻) present in seawater on fluorescence intensity of uranium was studied. The concentration of phosphoric acid required for maximum enhancement of fluorescence intensity was optimized and was found to be 5%. Similarly the volume of concentrated nitric acid required to eliminate the quenching effect of chloride and bromide completely from 5 ml of seawater were optimized and was found to be 3 ml. A simple equation was derived using steady state fluorescence correction method and was used for calculation of uranium concentration in seawater samples. The method has a precesion of 1% (1 s, n = 3). The values obtained from laser fluorimetry were validated by analyzing the same samples by linear sweep adsorptive stripping voltametry (LSASV) of the uranium-chloranilic acid (2,5-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone) complex. Both the values are well in agreement.     

Determination of Nb and Ta in Nb/Ta minerals by inductively coupled plasmas optical emission spectrometry using slurry sample introduction

The determination of Nb and Ta in Nb–Ta minerals was accomplished by slurry nebulization inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), using a clog-free V-groove ceramic nebulizer. Samples were first wet-ground to appropriate particle sizes with narrow size distribution and 90% of the particles in the slurry were smaller than 2.32 μm in diameter. Subsamples were then dispersed in pH 9 aqueous solutions, and agitated in an ultrasonic bath for 15 min prior to analysis. Due to the lack of slurry standards matching well with the samples, calibration was simply carried out using aqueous solution standards. Results were compared with those obtained from a conventional fusion decomposition procedure and acid digestion procedures and a good agreement between the measured and referred values was obtained. The technique provided a good alternative for the rapid determination of Nb and/or Ta in their corresponding minerals.     

Novel fusion method for direct determination of uranium in ilmenite,rutile, columbite,tantalite, and xenotime minerals by laser induced fluorimetry

A simple, rapid, effective and eco-friendly decomposition method is developed for the determination of uranium (U) by laser induced fluorimetry (LIF). The salts of sodium di-hydrogen phosphate (NaH₂PO₄) and di-sodium hydrogen phosphate (Na₂HPO₄) were used in the ratio of 1:1 (phosphate flux) for the decomposition and dissolution of refractory, non silicate minerals like ilmenite, rutile, columbite, tantalite, and xenotime. The effect of associated matrix elements (Ti, Fe, Nb, Ta, Mn and Y present in the sample) on quenching of uranyl fluorescence was studied. The flux used for the sample decomposition has several advantages. In the reported sample decomposition methods, α-hydroxy acids are used as complexing agents to prevent hydrolysis and to get clear and stable solution. This solution can not be directly used for U determination by LIF as α-hydroxy acids quench uranyl fluorescence, hence separation is required. In the present method no such separation is required. The flux itself acts as fluorescence enhancing reagent and buffer (maintaining the optimum pH of 7.1 ± 0.1). The fused melt of the flux mixture, when disintegrated in water, gives clear and stable solution and has high tolerance for most of inorganic quenchers compared to reported phosphate buffers. Also just by dilution (due to high sensitivity of LIF), the concentration of quenchers could be brought down well within the tolerance limit. The accuracy and precision of the method was evaluated by analyzing Certified Reference Materials (IGS-33 and IGS-34 of Institute of Geological Sciences, UK) and Synthetic Minerals. The accuracy of the data is further evaluated by comparing with standard decomposition methods. The results are well within the experimental error. The RSD of the method is ±10% (n = 6) at 10 ppm level for Ilmenite and for other minerals the RSD of the method is ±5% (n = 6) at 50 ppm level. The method is being routinely applied to various refractory samples received from Rare Metal and Rare Earth Investigations for determination of uranium by laser fluorimetry.     

Cold dissolution method for the determination of uranium in various geological materials at trace levels by laser fluorimetry

A cold dissolution procedure for the determination of uranium in various geological materials like rocks, minerals, soils etc., has been described. Samples are allowed to react with HF and HNO(3) at room temperature overnight. Boric acid is added to complex excess fluoride ions. From the clear solution thus obtained, uranium is determined directly in laser fluorimeter after the addition of fluorescence enhancing reagents. The results of few standard reference materials analysed by the present method agree with the certified values. This methodology does not require platinum or teflon ware, exhaust system and time consuming solvent extraction step. Hazardous acid vapours are not left in air, so there is no air pollution. Chemicals consumption is minimal. Therefore the method is economical. The method can be employed for high sample throughput which is the prerequisite for exploration geochemists.     

A spectrophotometric method for uranium determination

A very sensitive extraction spectrophotometric method for the analysis of uranium based on the extraction of a uranium—benzoate—crystal violet complex by a mixture of xylene and benzene is described. The absorbance maximum is at 606 nm and molar absorptivity is 4.28·10⁴ l·mol⁻¹·cm⁻¹. The interference due to a number of anions and cations studied without any pre-extraction was found to be within permissible limits. The method has been used for determining uranium in a synthetic solution, i.e., uranium in the presence of various other ions. The interference due to some cations was eliminated by the use of a masking agent (boric acid).     

A potentiometric method for the determination of uranium by stannous chloride reduction

A potentiometric method has been developed for the determination of uranium using stannous chloride as reductant. The oxidation of excess stannous chloride was accomplished with an excess of sodium nitrite, the excess of which was destroyed by sulfamic acid. The U(IV) was then determined by potentiometric titration with standard potassium dichromate. For 3–5 mg amounts of uranium the precision obtained was better than 0.3%.     

Leaching characteristics and kinetics of radioactive element uranium and thorium from Ta/Nb tailing

The tantalum (Ta)/niobium (Nb) tailing is the tailing after smelting Ta/Nb ore. The tailing contains a certain amount of radioactive element uranium (U) and thorium (Th). U and Th from Ta/Nb tailing were leached by nitric acid and sulfuric acid. Leaching effect and kinetics were investigated under the conditions of different acid concentration, temperature, liquid–solid ratio and time. The results showed that the leaching effects of sulfuric acid on U and Th were much better than that of nitric acid. Kinetic analysis shows that the leaching of U and Th by nitric acid and sulfuric acid are surface chemical reaction.

     

A specific method for the determination of uranium in ores by cathode ray polarography

A method is presented for the specific determination of uranium in ores by cathode my polarography. The uranium is separated by a simple and rapid mercury-cathode electrolysis, then determined polarographically in a base electrolyte in which vanadium, titanium and tungsten do not interfere. Application of the method to the analysis of ten standard uranium ores is shown.     

A modified method for the determination of methylmercury by gas chromatography

A simple modification of the West?? extraction procedure for methylmercury and its determination by gas chromatography (GC) is presented. The cysteine clean-up step has been modified, with use of cysteine-impregnated paper instead of cysteine solution. Methylmercury bromide is extracted from the sample into toluene and is selectively adsorbed on the cysteine paper. Interfering compounds are washed from the paper with toluene. The isolated methylmercury is set free with sulphuric acid containing bromide, extracted into benzene and determined by GC. The modification of the extraction procedure results in good recovery and reproducibility for various biological and environmental samples, good sensitivity with a detection limit of 0.1 ng/g, avoidance of difficulties arising from emulsion formation, cleaner chromatograms, and faster analysis. It is particularly suitable for determination of low levels of MeHg.     

A method for the determination of the uranium content in U-Al alloys

The paper describes a method for the determination of uranium content in enriched U–Al alloys. The mass-spectrometric isotope dilution method was proposed and verified for the determination of uranium in these materials. A solution of natural uranylnitrate, prepared by dissolution of standard reference material NBS-U-960, was used as a spike. Uranium was separated from aluminium in the form of chloro complexes by sorption on anion exchange resin Dowex 1-X8 from 9M HCl. The error of determination lies in an interval 0.03–0.07% rel. for uranium contents 18.2–22.8 wt%.     

A modified HPLC method for the determination of ochratoxin A by fluorescence detection

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method (HPLC) with fluorescent detector is described for the determination of ochratoxin A (OTA). A mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile:water:acetic acid (99:99:2, v/v/v) was used for the resolution of the compound on a C(18) Hypersil column. The retention time for OTA and diflunisal which was used as an internal standard (IS) were 11.7 and 12.8 min, respectively. The method is selective, reliable, reproducable with relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.70 and linear in the range of 2.5 x 10(-9)-1.5 x 10(-8) M OTA. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 2.5 x 10(-10) M corresponding to 0.1 ng mL(-1) and 8.2 x 10(-10) corresponding to 3.3 ng mL(-1), respectively. Recovery studies were 81.2 +/- 1.9 (SD). The method was applied for analysis of OTA in wheat, corn, red pepper, cheese and wine. The proposed method can be used for the routine analysis of OTA in food and animal feed.     

A simple method for the determination of uranium and thorium by delayed neutron counting

A simple method for the determination of uranium and thorium by delayed neutron counting is described. One portion of the sample is irradiated in a reactor and the delayed neutrons are counted. Another portion of the sample is mixed with B₄ C powder absorbing the thermal neutrons, and irradiated in the same position. From those data, both uranium and thorium can be calculated when a quantitative calibration has been made beforehand. The detection limits for the pure elements are 0.07 ppm for uranium and 2 ppm for thorium with the minimum analyzing time being 2 min. The accuracy of the method is investigated by comparing results obtained by the method described here with results obtained by epithermal activation analysis.     

A titrimetric method for the sequential determination of thorium and uranium

A method for the sequential determination of thorium and uranium has been developed. In the sample solution containing thorium and uranium, thorium is first determined by complexometric titration with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and then in the same solution uranium is determined by redox titration employing potentiometry. As EDTA interferes in uranium determination giving positive bias, it is destroyed by fuming with HClO₄ prior to the determination of uranium. A precision and accuracy of better than ±0.15% is obtained for thorium at 10mg level and uranium ranging from 5 mg to 20 mg in the aliquot.     

Pefloxacin determination in urine by synchronous fluorimetry

The feasibility of using synchronous fluorescence spectra for the determination of fluoroquinolone antibiotics in biological liquids is demonstrated. Pefloxacin chelating with metal ions in a micellar medium increases the determination sensitivity.     

A micromethod for the determination of selenium in tissues and biological fluids by single-test-tube fluorimetry

A sensitive single-test-tube procedure for the fluorimetric determination of ng quantities of selenium with diaminonaphthalene, from small samples of animal origin is described. Several parameters related to the nitric/perchloric/sulphuric acid digestion, subsequent reduction and piazselenol formation are studied using blood as the matrix. The detection limit is 0.45 ng Se. The within-series precision for blood and heart tissue is 4.2% and 2.3% and between series is 5.0% and 3.6%, respectively. Recovery of added selenite and selenomethionine to blood, heart tissue and urine ranges from 98–101%. The correlation coefficient between the proposed and an electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric method for serum samples is 0.997. This procedure is especially suitable for serial operation with a daily (8-h) throughput of 25 samples in duplicate.     

A gravimetric method for the determination of oxygen in uranium oxides and ternary uranium oxides by addition of alkaline earth compounds

A simple gravimetric determination of oxygen in uranium oxides and ternary uranium oxides is described. In alkaline earth uranates which are formed by heating in air at 800–1100°C, uranium is in the hexavalent state over certain continuous ranges of alkaline earth-to-uranium ratios. Thus, if an alkaline earth uranate or a compound containing an alkaline earth element, e.g. MgO, is mixed with the oxide sample and heated in air under suitable conditions, oxygen can be determined from the weight change before and after the reaction. The standard deviation of the O:U ratio for a UO_2+x test sample is ±0.0008–0.001, if a correction is applied for atmospheric moisture absorbed during mixing.     

A modified apparatus for determination of carbon in metals by the low pressure method

The low pressure method of determination of carbon in metals and alloys was modified to include certain new techniques. An isopentane slush bath dispensed with the use of liquid oxygen and the usual McLeod gauge was replaced by a differential oil manometer, which increased the sensitivity. As little as 5 μg of carbon in CaCO₃-quartz standards could be determined with a coefficient of variation of 16.0% which improved to 3.3% at the 100-μg level. The apparatus was used for the determination of carbon in metals such as uranium, zirconium and iron and in steels and cupronickel alloy.     

Fluorimetric method for the determination of uranium in natural waters

A method is described for the fluorimetric determination of uranium in natural waters. The limit of detection is 0.3 ppM. Ion-exchange is used to preconcentrate the uranium by a factor of 22 and separate it from quenching ions in the sample. The fluorescence is measured in a medium that is 1.35M in both sulphuric and phosphoric acids. The uranyl ions are excited by radiation of wavelength 280 nm and bandwidth 40 nm. The emitted signal is scanned from 470 to 510 nm. After spiking of the sample solution with a small volume of standard uranium solution, the fluorescence signal is scanned again and the uranium content of the sample calculated from the two readings. The coefficient of variation is 8.5% for determinations of U in a synthetic water sample having a uranium content of 1.9 ppM. Destruction of organic matter in the eluates gives 0.1 ppM detection limit.