Detection of trace uranium in ore powder samples by field optical method

Uranium ore exploration and mining is attracting more and more attentions by governments because of the urgency to solve energy problems. Based on the chromogenic reaction of uranium and arsenazo III, a new field optical method based on homemade solid reagent kit and portable optical spectrometer was developed in this contribution for the detection of trace uranium in ore powder samples. The results showed that a semiquantitative method could be developed by naked eyes based on the color changes of uranium-arsenazo III complexes when the total mass of the homemade solid reagent kit was 1.39 mg. And the developed field optical method could discriminate the ores with uranium and those without uranium successfully. What is more, the field optical method could detect the exact content of uranium in ore powder samples. Compared with the common methods, the present field optical method possesses the advantages of being simple and fast, and is suitable for field work, showing a great promise in uranium ore exploration and mining, trace uranium control in environments and foods. (authors)