Optimization of an analytical method for reducing the volume of radioactive waste generated during determination of uranium in presence of plutonium

A new method for uranium (U) determination in presence of plutonium (Pu) in the range of 0.7-2.4 mg per aliquot is optimized in a low volume potentiometric cell (4 mL) and waste volume is decreased by six times. U determination in presence Pu at higher dynamic range is optimized by a complexometric titration by employing 2,6 pyridine di-carboxylic acid and ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid as the masking agent. In this method Pu introduced a bias of 6 % irrespective of U-Pu concentration ratio with a precision of 0.4 %. (author)