Ruthenium determination in synthetic purex waste solutions by AAS

A method for the determination of ruthenium in synthetic Purex waste solutions by flame AAS is described. With the usual flames and a lanthanum buffer, only cerium interference in the air-acetylene flame need be considered under the conditions applied. Ruthenium nitrosyl nitrate, ruthenium(IV) hydroxychloride and alkaline ruthenate samples gave identical results, showing that the extraordinarily stable Ru-NO bond does not hinder atomization. The preparation and standardization of the ruthenium nitrosyl solutions, and the alkaline fusion, are briefly described.