Preparation of soluble ternary heteroazo dye complexes for the spectrophotometric determination of trace uranium(VI)

The complexing ability of typical pyridylazo, quinolylazo and thiazolylazo dyes with uranium(VI) in aqueous ethanol media are investigated in the presence and absence of aromatic carboxylic acid. Uranium(VI) forms solubilized ternary complexes with PAN, PAR, TAM, 5-Br-PADAP, 3,5-diBr-PADAP and QADAP in 48% ethanol solution containing sufficient amounts of sulfosalicylic acid and triethanolamine buffer (pH 7.8). Aromatic carboxylic acids contribute to expel the coordinated water molecules from the uranium (VI) moiety and their chelating effects have been explained by ternary complex formation. An increase in molar absorptivity and no shift in the wavelength of maximum absorbance are observed for all uranium(VI) complexes investigated. The 11 stoichiometry of uranuim(VI) and heteroazo dye in the binary complex does not change through ternary complex formation. The molar absorptivity of the uranium(VI)-3,5-diBr-PADAP-sulfosalicylic acid ternary complex at 595 nm is 8.4×10⁴l mol^–1 cm^–1 and Beer's law is valid up to 2.5gmg ml^–1 of uranium(VI). The interferences due to coexisting metal ions can be effectively masked by addition of CyDTA or Ca-CyDTA.     

Extraction of uranium(VI)-pyridylazo dye complexes into a droplet of lipophilic polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ether (PONPE-2) for subsequent spectrophotometry

Polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ether with 2 oxyethylene units (PONPE-2) is immiscible with water and is suspended on the surface of aqueous layer as a droplet. Its unique property is applied to the solvent extraction of uranium(VI) with 5-Br-PADAP. Uranium(VI) chelates are quantitatively enriched into a small volume of PONPE-2 and the absorbance was measured in the mixed ethanol solution. The apparent molar absorptivity of uranium(VI)-5-Br-PADAP complex at 578 nm is 6.46×10⁴ l mol^–1 cm^–1 and the calibration curve is linear over the range of 0.7–7 g of uranium(VI) per 1.5 ml of the final solution.     

Extraction and spectrophotometric determination of uranium(VI) withN-phenylcinnamohydroxamic acid

Uranium(VI) reacts withN-phenylcinnamohydroxamic acid to form an orange-yellow complex in the pH range 5.5–8.5. The orange-yellow complex, having the composition of 12 (metal:ligand), is quantitatively extractable into ethyl acetate. The spectrum of the complex exhibits a maximum absorption at 400 nm with a molar absorptivity of 6500 M^–1·cm^–1. The coloured system obeys Beer's law in the concentration range 2–40g·ml^–1 of uranium(VI). The photometric sensitivity of the colour reaction is 0.037 g·cm^–2 of uranium(VI). Most of the common ions do not interfere and the method has been found to be simple, precise, and free from the rigid control of experimental conditions. The method has been applied to the determination of uranium in synthetic matrices and potable water.     

Spectrophotometric determination of uranium(VI) with 1-(2′-thiazolylazo)-2-naphthol in the presence of Trition X-100

Uranium(VI) reacts with 1-(2-thiazolylazo)-2-naphthol to form a red-coloured chelate in the pH range 5.3–7.2, maintained by 0.04 M acetate buffer. Absorbance of the sparingly soluble complex, solubilized and stabilized by Triton X-100, is measured after 30 min and it is stable for at least 16 hours. The complex exhibits maximum absorbance at 575 and 625–630 nm, but absorbance at longer wavelengths is not stable. The 12 complex obeys Beer's law over the concentration range 0.4–6.4 g of uranium(VI) per cm³, has molar absorptivity 3.36·10⁴ dm³·mol^–1·cm^–1, Sandell sensitivity 7.0 ng·cm^–2, formation constant (log K) 9.32 and coefficient of variation ±0.77%. Effect of 60 ions has been studied and selectivity improved considerably in presence of CDTA. The method has been applied for determination of uranium content in a rock sample.     

Nicotinamidoxime as an analytical reagent

Summary Uranium (VI) has been found to give a yellow colour with nicotinamidoxime in alkaline medium which is highly satisfactory for the spectrophotometric estimation of the metal. The optimumph for development of the colour is 10.9–11.5 in presence of a large excess of the reagent, at 10–40C. The colour intensity is measured at 400 m. Sensitivity is 0.045 g uranium per cm², with a visual identification limit of 5 g uranium per ml. Beer's law is obeyed in the range of 5–40 ppm of the metal with an optimum range of 8–40 ppm. The colour is stable for at least one hour. All the common anions are without effect, excepting however, phosphate, carbonate, and cyanide which are tolerated only in traces. Use of tartrate or EDTA helps to mask effectively all the interfering cations excepting copper, iron and vanadium.     

Differential pulse voltammetric methods for the simultaneous estimation of uranium-iron and uranium-cadmium mixtures in solution

Differential pulse voltammetric methods have been developed for the simultaneous estimation of the constituents of uranium-iron and uranium-cadmium mixtures in solution. A mixture of 1M H₃PO₄–1M KH₂PO₄ (with a pH1.5), was found to be the most ideal supporting electrolyte for both methods, among many that were evaluated for their suitability. In uranium-iron mixtures the calibration for iron was found to be linear up to 150 g ml^–1 (r²=0.9986), while that of uranium up to 500 g ml^–1 (r²=0.999). Iron at 6.7 g ml^–1 level could be determined in the presence of 800 fold uranium (wt/wt) without significant interference. Uranium at 21 g ml^–1 level could be analyzed with 5-fold iron (wt/wt). This upper limit of iron was due to the precipitation of iron as phosphate. In the case of uranium — cadmium mixtures, cadmium calibration for cadmium was found to be linear up to 1300 g ml^–1 (r²=0.9993). Concentration levels of 4.6 g ml^–1 Cd could be determined at a 500-fold excess (wt/wt) of uranium. Uranium calibration was linear up to 500 g ml^–1 (r²=0.999) and 21 g ml^–1 uranium could tolerate up to a 1000-fold excess of cadmium (wt/wt). Both procedures could tolerate 10 g ml^–1 levels of metal ions, such as chromium, copper, manganese, molybdenum and vanadium.     

Spectrophotometric determination of uranium with 1-[(5-Methyl-2-pyridyl)azo]-2-naphthol

Summary Uranium(VI) reacts with 1-[(5-methyl-2-pyridyl)azo]-2-naphthol (5-Me--PAN) in aqueous solution. The complex can be extracted with chloroform at pH 7.0–11.5 to give a red solution with an absorbance peak at 560 nm. The color is stable and the system conforms to Beer's law at the range of 1.5–8 ppm uranium in chloroform layer. Common anions and cations do not interfere. Large amounts of interfering cations can be masked by potassium cyanide, EDTA or triethanolamine. The proposed method is a selective procedure for the determination of uranium. The molar absorptivity in the chloroform extract is 2.1×10⁴ l mole^–1 cm^–1 at 560 nm.

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Zusammenfassung Uran(VI) reagiert mit 1-[(5-Methyl-2-pyridyl)azo]-2-naphthol(5-Me--PAN) in wäßriger Lösung unter Bildung einer mit Chloroform bei pH 7,0–11,5 extrahierbaren, roten Komplexverbindung mit einem Absorptionsmaximum bei 560 nm. Die Färbung ist beständig und folgt dem Beerschen Gesetz zwischen 1,5 und 8 ppm Uran. Die üblichen Ionen stören nicht. Große Mengen störender Kationen können mit Kaliumcyanid, ÄDTA oder Triäthanolamin maskiert werden. Die vorgeschlagene Methode ist für die Uranbestimmung selektiv. Die molare Extinktion des Chloroformextraktes beträgt 2,1×10⁴ l·Mol·^–1 cm^–1 bei 560 nm.

     

Neutron activation determination of2 3 7Np in irradiated experimental fuels and in waste solutions and distribution studies in sea-water and submarine fauna and flora of disposal areas

The determination of^{2 3 7}Np by activation analysis^{2 3 7}Np(n,)^{2 3 8}Np (2. 2. d). Main gamma ray 984.4 keV is disturbed either by highly activable elements or by uranium giving interference. Therefore, a pre-irradiation chemical separation step is used.^{2 3 7}Np determination has been performed in irradiated experimental fuels, waste solutions, nuclear fuel zircaloy sheats and in studies of distribution in sea-water and submarine fauna and flora from disposal sites. The detection limit is 5·10^–13 g of^{2 3 7}Np corresponding to 2.5·10^–9 mg/kg for 200 ml sea-water sample.     

Spectrophotometric determination of trace uranium(VI) as a mixed ligand complex with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol and aromatic carboxylic acid

Spectrophotometric studies on a uranium(VI) ternary complex and its analytical application are described. Uranium(VI) reacts with 5-Br-PADAP to form an unstable chelate, which precipitates on standing in 48% ethanolic aqueous solution. The colour stability of uranium(VI) complex is greatly improved by the presence of aromatic carboxylic acids. For the present purpose, o-hydroxybenzoic acid and its derivatives are best suited. The calibration graph is linear up to 2.6 g·ml^–1 of uranium(VI) at 578 nm. The role of carboxylic acid as an auxiliary ligand is discussed.     

Alpha-recoil atoms of plutonium in the environment

The -recoil effect of²³⁹Pu has been observed in environmental samples and theN ₅ ^P /N₅ ratio in these samples has been calculated. This ratio in atmospheric samples is in the range between 10^–5 and 10^–4 (atom/atom). For other contemporary terrestrial samples it is in the range between 10^–7 and 10^–6 (atom/atom), while that of uranium mineral is about 10^–10 (atom/atom). The results further explain the radioactive fallout contamination of our environment by uranium and plutonium isotopes.     

A rapid method for uranium isotope ratio measurement by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Uranium isotope ratio U 234/238 can be measured by commercial high-performance inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with good precision and accuracy (relative standard deviation RSD<2%). The method is based on acquiring the data using a peak jump mode and a collecting signal 10 times longer for low abundance isotopes. Uranium isotope standards U-005 to U-200 from the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) were used for method development. The optimum uranium concentration range for analysis for dissolved samples is from 50 to 200 g l^–1.     

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 gas-jet system for the study of short-lived,light fission products

A selective method for the solvent extraction and spectrophotometric determination of uranium(VI) is described. Uranium can be extracted into chloroform at pH 6.0 with N-m-chlorophenyl-2-theno-hydroxamic acid (N-m-CPTHA) and determined by spectrophotometry using 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN). The molar absorptivity is 1.50·10⁴ 1·mol^–1·cm^–1 at 560 nm. The system obeys Beer's law within the range 0.95–20.00 ppm of uranium. Alternatively, a back-extraction procedure was also developed in which uranium is back-extracted by nitric acid and estimated spectrophotometrically using Arsenazo III. The molar absorptivity is 2.0·10⁴ 1·mol^–1·cm^–1 at 665 nm. The parameters concerning the optimum conditions for the analytical method are discussed. The proposed method is applied precisely for the determination of uranium in rock and sea water samples.     

Separation and determination of uranium(VI) with calixarene hydroxamic acids

A new calixarene hydroxamic acid, 5,11,17,23-tetra-(N-p-chlorophenyl hydroxamate c-phenyl-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (CPCHA) was synthesized and used for the extraction and spectrophotometric determination of uranium(VI). The molar absorptivity of the uranium(VI)-CPCHA-thiocyanate complex was 9.9·10³ 1·mol^–1·cm^–1 at 436 nm. The system obeyed Beer's law in the range of 1.78–23.1 ppm of uranium. The uranium(VI)-hydroxamate-ethyl acetate complex was directly aspirated for graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry measurements (GFAAS) which increased the sensitivity by about a factor of fifty. Uranium was determined in various standard and environmental samples.     

Liquid-liquid extraction and spectrophotometric determination of uranium with n-phenyl-3-styrylacrylohydroxamic acid (PSAHA)

A rapid, selective and sensitive liquid-liquid extraction and spectrophotometric method for the separation and microgram determination of uranium using PSAHA is described. Uranium is extracted with PSAHA into chloroform at pH 6.0–6.8. The U-PSAHA chelate is orange red in color having maximum absorbance at 410 nm and molar absorptivity 1.2·10⁴l·mol^–1·cm^–1. The system obeys Beer's Law in the range of 1.2 to 22.00 ppm of uranium. The uranium is determined in sea water and rock samples.     

Spectrophotometric determination of plutonium with chlorophosphonazo III

Summary Plutonium(IV) forms a Chlorophosphonazo III complex in 0.5–2M hydrochloric acid. Maximum absorbance occurs at 620 and 685 nm. Beer's law is obeyed over the range of 0–50g per 10 ml and the molar absorptivity is 3.7×10⁴ mol^–1 cm^–1 at 690 nm. Plutonium can be determined in the presence of fluoride, sulfate and phosphate. However, lanthanides, thorium, uranium and zirconium interfere seriously.

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Zusammenfassung Plutonium(IV) bildet in 0,5-bis 2-m Salzsäure mit Chlorphosphonazo III eine Komplexverbindung, deren Absorptionsmaxima bei 630 und 685 nm liegen. Bis 50 g/10 ml entspricht die Farbe dem Beer'schen Gesetz; die molare Extinktion bei 690 nm beträgt 3,7·10⁴l·Mol^–1·cm^–1. Plutonium kann damit in Gegenwart von F^–, SO₄ ^2– und PO₄ ^3– bestimmt werden. Lanthanide, Th, U und Zr stören jedoch ernstlich.

     

4-(21-thiazolylazo) resacetophenone oxime. A new analytical reagent for the spectrophotometric determination of uranium (VI)

4-(2¹-Thiazolylazo) resacetophenone oxime forms a pink colored soluble complex with uranium(VI) in buffer solutions of pH 6.0. The colored complex has a maximum absorbance at the wavelength 572 nm and the color is stable for about 48 h. The system obeys Beer's law over the concentration range 0.2–6.0 g of uranium cm^–3. The molar absorptivity and the Sandell sensitivity of the complex are 6.2×10⁴ dm³.mol^–1.cm^–1 and 0.0038 g cm^–2, respectively. Effect of various diversions has been studied and the method was successfully applied for the determination of uranium in rock samples.     

Spectrophotometric determination of uranium with 5-(2′-carboxyphenyl)azo-8-quinolinol in the non-ionic micellar medium of Triton X-100

Triton X-100, a non-ionic surfactant, has been used to sensitize the reaction of 5-(2-carboxyphenyl)azo-8-quinolinol with uranium in aqueous medium at pH 5.2–6.1 to form a wine red coloured complex. The micellar sensitization results in two and a half-times enhanced molar absorptivity enabling the determination of uranium in rock samples at ppm level, stability of the complex enhanced from 4 hours to at least 72 hours. Extraction of the complex is avoided making the procedure simple, rapid and easy in operation. The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity of the complex are 1.50·10⁴l·mol^–1·cm^–1 and 15.9 ng·cm^–2, respectively, at _max=568 nm. Beer's law is obeyed over the range 0–3.3 g·ml^–1 of uranium. An amount as low as 0.19 g·ml^–1 of uranium could be determined satisfactorily within a relative standard deviation of ±1.3%. The limits of determination and practical quantitation are 0.29 and 1.80 ppm, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of uranium in soil, stream sediment and rock samples.     

Ammonium tetraphenylborate-naphthalene adsorbent for the preconcentration and trace determination of uranium in standard alloys and synthetic samples using 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol by fourth-derivative spectrophotometry

A solid ion-pair material produced from ammonium tetraphenylborate (ATPB) and naphthalene has been used for the preconcentration of uranium from the large volume of its aqueous complex samples. Uranium reacts with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol (5-Br-PADAP) to form a water insoluble, coloured complex. This complex is quantitatively retained on the ATPB-naphthalene adsorbent filled in a column in the pH range 7.0–9.5 and at a flow rate of 2 ml/min. The solid mass from the column is dissolved with 5 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) and uranium is determined by fourth-derivative spectrophotometry. The calibration curve is linear over the concentration range of 0.13–15.0 g of uranium in 5 ml of the final DMF solution. Seven replicate determinations of 6 g of uranium gave a mean peak height (peak-to-peak signal between 592 nm and 582 nm) of 1.02 with a relative standard deviation of 0.95%. The sensitivity is 0.8419 (d⁴A/d⁴)/(g ml^–1) found from the slope of the calibration curve. The interference of a large number of anions and cations on the estimation of uranium has been studied and the method applied for the determination of uranium in coal fly ash, Zr-base alloy and some synthetic samples corresponding to standard alloys.     

Spectrophotometric determination of mercury with thiocyanate and Rhodamine B

Summary Mercury(II) in the presence of a large excess of thiocyanate forms a violet colour with Rhodamine B. The complex formed can be stabilized by addition of poly(vinyl alcohol), and forms the basis for a spectrophotometric method for determination of trace amounts of mercury. The calibration graph for measurement at 610 nm is linear in the range 1–15g of mercury per 25 ml, with a molar absorptivity of 1.1×10⁵l· mole^–1·cm·. The effect of foreign ions has been studied and the method can be applied to the determination of mercury in air with reliable analytical results.

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Spektrophotometrische Bestimmung von Quecksilber mit Rhodanid und Rhodamin B

Zusammenfassung In Gegenwart eines großen Überschusses von Rhodanid bildet Hg(II) mit Rhodamin B eine violette Färbung. Durch Zusatz von Polyvinylalkohol kann dieser Komplex stabilisiert werden und bietet somit die Grundlage für die spektrophotometrische Bestimmung von Hg-Spuren. Die Eichkurve für die Messung bei 610 nm verläuft für 1–15g Hg/25 ml linear. Die molare Absorptivität beträgt 1,1×10⁵ l·mol^–1·cm^–1. Die Fremdionenwirkung wurde untersucht. Das Verfahren kann zur Hg-Bestimmung in Luft verwendet werden.