Determination of uranium by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was applied to the determination of uranium in the eluate that was obtained in the extraction process of uranium from sea water. Optimization of operating parameters of ICP-OES and spectral line profiles were examined. A linear calibration curve up to 30 μg/ml and a detection limit of 0.02 μg/ml for standard solutions were obtained by using the uranium 409.01 nm line. Uranium in the acidic eluates from amidoxime resin was determined by ICP-OES. Analytical results agreed with those obtained by spectrophotometry with Arsenazo III and fluorometry. As a result, ICP-OES was found to be useful for the rapid determination of uranium in the eluate. (author)