Cation-exchange separation of uranium from other elements in tetrahydrofuran-nitric acid media containing trioctylphosphine oxide.
The batch distribution coefficients of Cu(II), Za, Cd, Fe(III), Hg(II), Mg, Co(II), Ni, Pb, Ca and Bi were determined on the strongly acidic cation-exchange resin Dowex 50 x 8 in 0.1M trioctylphosphine oxide in tetrahydrofuran-5% 12M nitric acid. In this mixture all these metal ions, except Bi, have high K(d)-values and can be separated quantitatively from uranium which has a distribution coefficient of 0.1. Mixtures of U with Cu, Ni, Co, Cd or Fe were analysed to test the applicability of such separations. Different titrimetric and spectrophotometric methods were used to determine the elements subsequent to their separation from uranium on ion-exchange columns. The results show that accurate and effective separations can be achieved.
Khater
M M
MM
Analytical Institute, University of Vienna, IX Währingerstrasse 38, Austria.
Korkisch
J
J