Determination of impurities in uranium compounds by atomic absorption

Abstract A method is described for the determination of 14 elements (Al, Cd, Ca, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mg, Mn, Ni, K, Na, Zn) in uranium and uranium compounds by atomic absorption spectroscopy. A sample is dissolved in 6–8 N nitric acid, from which the uranium is selectively removed by a single extraction with tributyl phos phate. The aqueous layer is evaporated to dryness and the residue is re-dissolved in 0.2 N hydrochloric acid. Any or all of the elements can then be determined in the solution by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The limits of error in the analyses are less than 10%. Thus, the method gives about the same precision as colorimetric procedures, and it is much more precise than emission spectroscopy.