Solvent extraction and spectrophotometric studies on the separation and determination of some elements of nuclear significance

Uranium, thorium, lanthanides and zirconium are elements of nuclear significant. These elements may frequently be present together in solutions of different origins and compositions, such as acidic leach solutions of some ores, solutions resulting from reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuel and radioactive waste solutions. In their spectrophotometric determination using colouring agents, these elements interfere with each other. Selectivity in spectrophotometric determinations can often be considerably enhanced by preferential extraction of the coloured species into suitable organic phase before measurement, the pertinent colour being separated from other nonextractable interfering species