Spectrophotometric procedure for the determination of uranium with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol at a nuclear reprocessing facility

A simple method for the determination of uranium in process- and waste-stream samples at a nuclear fuel reprocessing facility that can be applied entirely in a remote environment is described. The method is both sensitive and selective enough to be applicable for almost any uranium determination. Uranium in aqueous samples is extracted as a nitrate complex into 4-methylpentan-2-one (hexone) from an acid-deficient aluminium nitrate salting solution. An aliquot of the hexone extract is then mixed with a solution containing methanol, pyridine and 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol (Br-PADAP). The absorbance of the U(VI)-Br-PADAP complex is measured at 580 nm. The detection limit for uranium is 0.8 μg with the linear rang extending to 80 μg. Interference studies, modifications for organic samples and solid-containing samples and process laboratory data are presented. (author). 31 refs.; 1 fig.; 2 tabs