Controlled potential coulometric determination of plutonium and uranium using a mercury pool electrode

Summary A simultaneous determination of plutonium and uranium in sulphuric acid solution by controlled potential coulometry is described. After a pre-electrolysis of 0.5 M sulphuric acid on a mercury pool electrode at +0.1 V vs. the saturated silver chloride electrode the sample is added to the electrolysis cell and plutonium and uranium are subsequently reduced at +0.1 V and –0.35 V respectively. High-fired plutonium-uranium oxides are dissolved by heating with sulphuric acid, nitric acid and ammonium sulphate. Results obtained are not biased and the precision is satisfactory. A mixed oxide pellet can be analysed in 2.5 hours. A detailed procedure is given.

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Coulometrische Bestimmung von Plutonium und Uran bei kontrolliertem Potential mit einer QuecksilberelektrodeAnwendung auf die Analyse von hochgeglühten Uran-Plutonium-Mischoxiden

Zusammenfassung Eine gleichzeitige Bestimmung von Plutonium und Uran in schwefelsaurer Lösung durch Coulometrie bei kontrolliertem Potential wird beschrieben. Nach einer Vorelektrolyse von 0,5 M Schwefelsäure an einer Quecksilberelektrode bei + 0,1 V, gemessen gegen die Silberchloridelektrode, wird die Probelösung in die Elektrolysezelle gebracht und Plutonium und Uran werden nacheinander bei +0,1 V bzw. –0,35 V reduziert. Hochgeglühte Plutonium-Uranoxide werden durch Erhitzen mit Schwefelsäure, Salpetersäure und Ammoniumsulfat gelöst. Die erhaltenen Ergebnisse sind richtig und die Genauigkeit ist befriedigend. Ein Mischoxidpellet kann in 2,5 h analysiert werden. Eine detaillierte Arbeitsvorschrift wird gegeben.

     

Controlled potential coulometric technique for the determination of thorium

A method based on controlled potential coulometry has been developed for the determination of thorium, using mercury as a working electrode. A known amount of EDTA is titrated coulometrically in the absence and in the presence of thorium. The difference in Coulombs obtained in these two titrations corresponds to the amount of thorium present in the aliquot. 0.5M sodium acetate has been used as a supporting electrolyte. Precision for thorium determination in the range of 4–8 mg is found to be better than ±0.2%.     

Constant-current coulometric determination of uranium in the pure metal

A new method is proposed for the highly precise and accurate constant-current coulometry of uranium in high-purity uranium. Precisely weighed amounts of uranium and pure iron are dissolved in 7 M sulfuric acid containing some hydrogen peroxide (40% $\text{v}\text{v}$). The solution is quantitatively transferred to the coulometric cell by rinsing with 1 M H₂SO₄, saturated with cerium(III) sulfate. The first step is the quantitative electro-chemical reduction to U(IV), Fe(II) and Ce(III) on a gold gauze electrode at constant current (100 mA) until evolution of hydrogen is observed. The hydrogen is then removed by flushing the solution with very pure nitrogen until the potential of a platinum gauze electrode reaches a constant value. Oxidation on the gold gauze electrode is carried out under precisely controlled constant current; after the quantitative oxidation of U(IV) to U(VI) and Fe(II) to Fe(III), and crossing the end-point, this end-point is determined very precisely potentiometrically through back-titration by successive current injections of 10 mA during 1 s. The method was tested on a NBS reference material, uranium (NBS 960).     

Narrow span coulometric analysis of neptunium

A narrow span (E _o ±0.1 V) controlled potential coulometric method has been developed for the determination of neptunium in 1M H₂SO₄ with a RSD of 0.2%. The main advantage of this method over the existing coulometric methods is that it can tolerate up to a 5-fold excess of plutonium. The method involves carrying out the electrolysis to about 97% and calculating by an iterative computation the formal electrode potential in situ, which is used to calculate the total amount present in the sample. The method consists in oxidation of all the neptunium to Np (VI) by Ce(IV), destruction of excess Ce(IV) and reduction of Np(VI) to Np(V) by NaNO₂, destruction of excess nitrite by sulfamic acid followed by coulometric titration of Np(V) to Np(VI).     

Controlled potential electrolytic determination of copper in lead and tin-base alloys

In lead-base alloys, copper can be determined by a single controlled-potential electrolysis if less than 1.5% of antimony is present, otherwise, the deposit must be dissolved and re-electrolyzed Iron tends to inhibit the co-deposition of antimony in tin-base alloys, copper and lead can be determined successively. The sample weight is 5 g; percentages as low as 0.2% can be determined.     

Controlled-potential coulometric determination of platinum in americium—platinum alloys

A controlled-potential coulometric method for the determination of platinum in americium—platinum alloys is described. Platinum in the hexachloroplatinate complex is reduced to the metal at —0.3 V vs. the saturated silver chloride electrode on a mercury pool electrode. For quantities up to 5 mg, the standard deviation was 6.4 μg.     

Influence of a photochemical reaction on the controlled potential coulometric determination of plutonium in a mixture with uranium

Summary Data are provided in support of a photochemical reaction which takes place simultaneously with the electrochemical reduction of quadrivalent plutonium during the controlled potential coulometric determination of plutonium in a mixture with uranium. The interfering effect of this reaction is overcome by placing the cell in a dark environment.

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Einfluß einer photochemischen Reaktion auf die coulometrische Plutoniumbestimmung neben Uran bei kontrolliertem Potential

Zusammenfassung Es wurde festgestellt, daß bei dieser Bestimmung eine photochemische Reaktion gleichzeitig mit der elektrochemischen Reduktion des vierwertigen Plutoniums abläuft. Experimentelle Beweise werden angeführt. Die Störung kann vermieden werden, wenn die coulometrische Titration im Dunkeln durchgeführt wird.

We wish to thank Mr. R. Batchelor for his interest in this work and Mr. V. Verdingh for his critical comments when drafting this report.     

Precise coulometric determination of uranium,plutonium and americium-application to small samples

Summary Isotopic dilution followed by mass spectrometry is currently used for the determination of microquantities of actinides, but for this method it is necessary to prepare certified solutions of isotopic diluents. The isotopes used are very expensive and often available only in small quantities. New methods have been developed for the accurate and precise determination of small amounts of uranium, plutonium and americium. By using controlled-potential coulometry 0.5eq of uranium and plutonium can be determined with a precision of 0.1% (coefficient of variation). For americium a constant-current coulometric titration allows the determination of 1eq with a precision of 0.3%. The equipment, coulometric cells and procedures are described. The results obtained for standard materials and comparisons with results from other analytical methods are given.

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Genaue coulometrische Bestimmung von Uran, Plutonium and Americium; Anwendung auf kleine Proben

Zusammenfassung Isotopenverdünnung und nachfolgende Massenspektrometrie werden laufend für die Bestimmung kleiner Mengen von Actiniden verwendet; dazu ist es aber notwendig, genaue Lösungen von Isotopen zur Verdünnung herzustellen. Die dazu verwendeten Isotopen sind sehr teuer und oft nur in sehr kleinen Mengen zu haben. Für die genaue Bestimmung kleiner Mengen Uran, Plutonium und Americium wurden neue Methoden ausgearbeitet. Unter Verwendung der potential-kontrollierten Coulometrie lassen sich 0,5eq Uran und Plutonium mit einer Genauigkeit von 0,1% (Variations-Koeffizient) bestimmen. Gleichstromcoulometrische Titration ermöglicht die Bestimmung von 1eq Americium mit einer Genauigkeit von 0,3%. Einrichtung samt coulometrischer Zellen und Arbeitsweise wurden beschrieben. Die mit Standardproben erzielten Resultate wurden mit den Ergebnissen anderer Verfahren verglichen.

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Presented at the 8th International Microchemical Symposium, Graz, August 25–30, 1980.     

Studies on the coulometric determination of uranium and plutonium employing a graphite electrode

Summary Graphite has been employed as a working electrode in the controlled potential coulometric determination of uranium and plutonium. The couples U(VI)/U(IV) and Pu(IV)/Pu(III) employed for analysis have diverse redox potentials and commonly the working electrodes employed are mercury and platinum. A graphite electrode in the shape of a beaker showed satisfactory performance for the quantitative reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) and Pu(IV) to Pu(III) and also for quantitative oxidation of Pu(III) to Pu(IV). Studies on the levels of the background current, blank values and their reproducible behaviour in acid media have been carried out with a view to achieve good precision and accuracy. A software-based predictive evaluation technique of end-point charge has been investigated. The results have shown that the graphite electrode can be used for the determination of both uranium and plutonium in the presence of each other with a precision and accuracy of better than ±0.5%.     

Constant current coulometric method for the determination of uranium in active process solutions

The determination of uranium in the range of 2.5–5 mg by constant current coulometry is described. The procedure is based on the modified version of the DAVIES—GRAY method, wherein uranium, after the reduction step, is oxidized by adding a known amount of potassium dichromate, and the excess of dichromate is determined by titration with Fe²⁺ solution. Fe²⁺ ions needed for the titration are generated in situ with 100% current efficiency by electrolytic reduction of Fe³⁺. The method is found to be accurate with a coefficient of variation better than 0.2%.     

Oxidation behaviour of uranium and neptunium in stabilised zirconia

Yttria stabilised zirconia (YSZ) based (Zr,Y,U)O_2−x and (Zr,Y,Np)O_2−x solid solutions with 6 and 20 mol% actinide were prepared with Y/Zr ratios ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 to investigate uranium and neptunium oxidation behaviour depending on the oxygen vacancies in the defect fluorite lattice. Sintering at 1600 °C in Ar/H₂ yields a cubic, fluorite-type structure with U(IV) and Np(IV). Annealing (Zr,Y,U)O_2−x with Y/Zr=0.2 at 800 °C in air results in a tetragonal phase, whereas (Zr,Y,U)O_2−x with higher Y/Zr ratios and (Zr,Y,Np)O_2−x retain the cubic structure. XANES and O/M measurements indicate mixed U(V)-U(VI) and Np(IV)-Np(V) oxidation states after oxidation. Based on X-ray diffraction, O/M and EXAFS measurements, different oxidation mechanisms are identified for U- and Np-doped stabilised zirconia. In contrast to U, excess oxygen vacancies are needed to oxidise Np in (Zr,Y,Np)O_2−x as the oxidation process competes with Zr for oxygen vacancies. As a consequence, U(VI) and Np(V) can only be obtained in stabilised zirconia with Y/Zr=1 but not in YSZ with Y/Zr=0.2.     

A constant current coulometric method for the determination of free acidity in uranium solutions

A method for the determination of free acidity in process solutions containing hydrolyzable ions like U(VI), Pu(IV), etc., has been developed. This method involves the titration of the free acid with electrogenerated hydroxide ions to a preset value of pH after complexing the metal ions with sodium sulfate. This method can by easily automated, requires small sample volumes and gives accurate results with good precision for samples with [UI]/[acid] mole ratios ranging from 0.25 to 16.     

Coulometric determination of neptunium

A coulometric titration method with controlled current and amperometric end-point detection with two indicator electrodes was worked out to determine neptunium in solutions which were obtained while treating the spent nuclear fuel. This method allows to determine in presence of 1000-fold quantities and more of Pu, Ce, Cr, Fe, Mn, 1000-fold quantities and more of U. The error of determination is 0.2% for pure Np solutions and increases up to some precent in presence of large amounts of impurity.     

Seperation of neptunium from irradiated uranium targets

A new chemical method based in two separation steps was developed to isolate²³⁵Np from uranium targets irradiated with charged particles. Neptunium and plutonium are separated from uranium and most of the fission products by ion exchange. Then, neptunium is isolated from plutonium and remaining contaminants by extraction chromatography with tributyl phosphate in hydrochloric acid solution. High decontamination was achieved.     

Mechanism of a secondary reaction during the coulometric determination of uranium in a mixture with iron

Summary The mechanism of a photochemical secondary reaction which takes place between iron and uranium during the coulometric determination of uranium is explained. As a result of this interfering effect lower uranium values are found. The appropriate working conditions to obtain reliable uranium measurements are indicated.We wish to thank Mr. H. L. Eschbach and Mr. V. Verdingh for their helpful comments when drafting this paper.     

Controlled-potential coulometric studies on fluoride and sulphate complexes of neptunium (VI)

Fluoride and sulphate complexing of Np(VI) has been studied by controlled-potential coulometry at a constant ionic strength. The values of ₁ ^* and ₂ ^* for fluoride complexes were found to be 9.4 and 8.9, respectively, at an ionic strength =0.5. At an ionic strength =1.0, ₁ ^* and ₂ ^* obtained were 6.6 and 10.5, respectively. Sulphate complexing of Np(VI) was studied only at an ionic strength =0.5. The value of ₁ ^* obtained was 5.6.     

Studies on controlled potential coulometric determination of gallium in sodium perchlorate and sodium thiocyanate

Controlled potential coulometric (CPC) studies were carried out for developing a method to determine gallium at milligram levels, in the mixed supporting electrolyte medium (4 M NaClO₄ + 0.5 M NaSCN), employing stirring mercury as a working electrode. Investigations for optimization of working electrode potentials, quantity of charge, level of background current and electrolysis time for achieving quantitative reduction of Ga(III) to Ga and its oxidation back to Ga(III), were undertaken. Effect of gallium content and interference of zinc in of gallium determination were also studied. The developed methodology was employed for the determination of gallium in pure Ga as well as in synthetic U + Ga mixture solutions. Accuracy and precision values of better than 0.5% were obtained at 1-2 mg levels.