ANALYSIS OF URANIUM, THORIUM AND ZIRCONIUM

Technical Report · Sat Oct 31 00:00:00 EST 1959

OSTI ID:4269778

Almassy, Gy; Ordogh, M; Schneer, A

Considering the physico-chemical conditions for tributyl phosphate uranium extraction, the optimum nitrate concentration of the aqueous phase in which uranium separation by single extraction amounted virtually to 100% was determined. The extraction was carried out in tributyl phosphate--petrol solution and the uranium re-extracted in a dilute ammonium carbonate solution. The uranium content was determined by reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) and subsequent oxidizing with Fe(III) which can be measured by the light absorption of alpha , alpha '-dipyridyl complex equivalent to uranium at 500 m mu wavelength. As to the chromatography of thorium it has been found that using the solvent indicated in the literature, thorium produces an elongated strip on a cellulose column or on paper. This spot becomes more compact by increasing the acid and water content of the solvent. The optimum composition of the solvent was determined: 8 N nitric acid was shaken with the same quantity of ether and after separation of the two phases the ether phase was used. Among the colorlmetric determinations of thorium the thoron method was improved for the analysis of ores by reducing Fe(III) in ascorbic acid. The sensitivity of the method increases by about 70% by the addition of methyl alcohol. Zirconium and hafrium can be separated selectively in amygdalic acid. The precipitate, containing 0.2 to 3 mg zirconium is dissolved in excess concentrated sulfuric acid and the amygdulic acid, bound to the zirconium quantitatively, can be oxidized into carbon dioxide and water with sodium bichromate solution. In the presence of 2 to 20 mg of zirconium the oxidation can be carried out in excess KMnO/sub 4/ in a fairly caustic medium. The vivid yellow zirconium morin complex fluorescing a green glow in UV light is suitable for the photometric determination of zirconium. Measurements can be carried out between 420 to 470 m mu . (auth)

• Research Organization: Central Research Inst. for Physics, Budapest; Lorand Eotvos Univ., Budapest
• NSA Number: NSA-13-006394
• OSTI ID: 4269778
• Report Number(s): A/CONF.15/P/1718
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-59
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

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CHEMISTRY
ABSORPTION
ACIDITY
ACIDS
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
ATOMS
BUTYL PHOSPHATES
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBONATES
CELLULOSE
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICALS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
CHROMIUM OXIDES
COLOR
COMPLEXES
EFFICIENCY
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FLUORESCENCE
HAFNIUM
HAFNIUM COMPLEXES
HYDROXIDES
IRON COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPIC EXCHANGE
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MEASURED VALUES
METHANOL
MINERAL ACIDS
MORIN
NITRATES
NITRIC ACID
OPERATION
ORGANIC ACIDS
OXIDATION
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PERMANGANATES
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POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
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RADON 220