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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Laser induced phosphorescence uranium analysis

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5334198

A method is described for measuring uranium in aqueous solution comprising: (a) adding phosphoric acid to a sample to convert any uranium present to a uranyl phosphate complex; (b) irradiating the sample with a laser light pulse having a wavelength of 425 nanometers, a bandwidth of 10 nanometers, peak power of 50 kilowatts, and pulse duration of 5 nanoseconds; (c) observing any resultant emissions at a wavelength of 520 nanometers at timed intervals of 10 microseconds duration during the time from 50 to 400 microseconds after the laser light pulse; wherein the natural logarithm of the emission intensity observed in step (c) is plotted as a function of time yielding an intercept value which is directly proportional to uranium concentration independent of variations in absolute emission intensity which are caused by matrix quenching or by the temperature of the aqueous solution.

Assignee:
Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
Patent Number(s):
US 4599512
OSTI ID:
5334198
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English