Spectrophotometric study of the reaction of the uranyl ion with 4-(2-thiazolylazo) resorcinol

The uranyl ion forms only 1:1 chelates with 4-(2-thiazolylazo) resorcinol (TAR) in solution, UO(2)(TAR)H(+) being formed below pH 3 and UOS(TAR) above pH 3-5. The latter complex may also be precipitated at pH > 3. The quantitative formation of UO(2)(TAR) at pH 7.5-7.8 in solutions containing a small excess of reagent and some triethanolamine as buffer can be used for the sensitive spectrophotometric determination of uranium. Several interfering ions can be masked with a mixture of sodium fluoride, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid and 5-sulphosalicylic acid. TAR is slightly less sensitive than 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol as a reagent for uranium but is more selective.