Effects of γ-radiation on spectrophotometric determination of uranium as thiocyanate

The effects of γ-radiation on the spectrophotometric determination of uranium as the thiocyanate complex in water and acetone-water solutions have been studied. When tin(II) chloride is present, the absorbance of uranium thiocyanate in aqueous solution decreases with increasing radiation dose until the appcarance of radiolytic elemental sulfur causes an apparent increase. In the absence of tin(II) chloride, the turbidity caused by radiolytic sulfur causes an increase in absorbance over the whole dose range studied. In acetone-water solution, similar but much more severe effects occur. Observations of radiation effects of some of the individual reagents used in the spectrophotometric determinations are included, as well as indications of the errors caused by specific radiation doses.