Gravimetric determination of uranium(VI) with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid

Uranium(VI) can be quantitatively precipitated from aqueous solution in the pH range 2.1-6.9 with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid in the presence of tetraphenylarsonium chloride. This provides a new rapid gravimetric method for uranyl ion as an organic chelate complex of high molecular weight. Sodium, aluminium, copper and nickel as well as nitrate, chloride, sulphate and acetate ions, do not interfere, but iron(III) and thorium(IV) do.