Reversed-phase liquid chromatography using mandelic acid as an eluent for the determination of uranium in presence of large amounts of thorium

Studies were carried out for the separation of uranium (U) and thorium (Th) on reversed-phase (RP) C₁₈ columns using mandelic acid as an eluent. Retention of thorium–mandelate on the unmodified stationary phase was found to be greater than that of uranyl–mandelate under the pH conditions employed. Th retention capacity of the stationary phase was determined as a function of pH and MeOH content of the mobile phase. The optimised parameters allowing U elution prior to Th were utilized for the determination of small amounts of U in the presence of large amounts of Th. The method has been used for the determination of U in synthetic samples with Th/U amount ratios up to 100,000 (10 μg/g of U) without any pre-separation, employing a particulate C₁₈ column. Effect of concentration of ion interaction reagents (IIRs) on the retention was studied to understand the mechanism of adsorption of their mandelate complexes onto the stationary phase. The experiments conducted unequivocally prove that thorium–mandelate complex is neutral whereas uranyl–mandelate complex is anionic in nature.