Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of uranium and zirconium using cloud point extraction and multivariate methods

A cloud point extraction (CPE) process using the nonionic surfactant Triton X-114 to simultaneous extraction and spectrophotometric determination of uranium and zirconium from aqueous solution using partial least squares (PLS) regression is investigated. The method is based on the complexation reaction of these cations with Alizarin Red S (ARS) and subsequent micelle-mediated extraction of products. The chemical parameters affecting the separation phase and detection process were studied and optimized. Under the optimum experimental conditions (i.e. pH 5.2, Triton X-114 = 0.20%, equilibrium time 10 min and cloud point 45 C), calibration graphs were linear in the range of 0.01-3 mg L^-1 with detection limits of 2.0 and 0.80 μg L^-1 for U and Zr, respectively. The experimental calibration set was composed of 16 sample solutions using an orthogonal design for two component mixtures. The root mean square error of predictions (RMSEPs) for U and Zr were 0.0907 and 0.1117, respectively. The interference effect of some anions and cations was also tested. The method was applied to the simultaneous determination of U and Zr in water samples.