Separation and solvent extraction of vanadium and uranium with n-propyl 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzoate.
A spectrophotometric method is described for the separation and determination of trace quantities of vanadium(IV) and (V) from uranium(VI). Vanadium is selectively separated from uranium by extraction at pH 6.5 into n-propyl 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzoate (PTB) dissolved in t-pentanol. Up to 120 microg of vanadium can be determined by measuring the absorbance of the blue complex in the organic phase at 585 nm. Uranium(VI) remains in the aqueous layer and can be determined spectrophotometrically by its reaction with PTB in aqueous acetone to produce a brown-red colour at pH 7.6-8.8. Solutions containing 25-275 microg of uranium absorb at 370-380 nm according to Beer's law. By modification, this procedure can be used for the determination of the two metals in native phosphate rocks. The effects of diverse ions on the determination of vanadium and uranium have also been examined.
Jasim
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Department of Chemistry, College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.