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Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of uranium, nitric acid and nitrous acid by least-squares method in PUREX process

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Abstract

Multi-wavelength linear regression spectrophotometry combined with method of least squares for simultaneous determination of uranium, nitric acid and nitrous acid in PUREX (Plutonium/URanium EXtraction) process was developed. The molar absorbance matrix was calibrated with absorbance data measured in the wavelength range of 350–500 nm for a series of standard solutions by linear least-squares regression. This method used information from the absorption spectra of U(VI)–nitrous acid–nitric acid solutions to determine U(VI), nitrous acid and nitric acid. In the range of 0.95–74.1 g/L U(VI), 5 × 10−4–2 × 10−3 mol/L nitrous acid and 3–5 mol/L aqueous nitric acid solution, the measuring precision for determination of U(VI), nitrous acid and nitric acid was 0.46, 4.09, and 0.68 % respectively. In the solution of 30 % TBP–kerosene, the measuring precision for determination of U(VI) and nitrous acid was 0.42 and 4.2 % respectively in the range of 0.95–74.1 g/L U(VI) and 5 × 10−4–2×10−3 mol/L nitrous acid. The spectrophotometric method can be valuable for monitoring and controlling of both species in PUREX process operation, thanks to its simplicity, efficiency and accuracy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. China Institute of Atomic Energy, P.O. Box 275(26), Beijing, 102413, China

    Li Li, Hu Zhang & Guo-An Ye

Authors
  1. Li Li
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  2. Hu Zhang
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  3. Guo-An Ye
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Correspondence to Li Li.

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Li, L., Zhang, H. & Ye, GA. Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of uranium, nitric acid and nitrous acid by least-squares method in PUREX process. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 295, 325–330 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-1833-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-1833-8

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