Simple Spectrophotometric Method for the Quantitative Determination of Uranium

Abstract A selective, reproducible, and sensitive spectrophotometric method for uranyl determination was developed. The method is based on the selective complexation reaction of ions with 2-(2-benzothiazolylazo)phenol(I), -4-methoxyphenol (II), and -3-hydroxyphenol(III) in the presence of sodium lauryl sulphate. The potentiality of the prepared reagents as new chromogenic ones for the determination of ions are studied by extensive investigations of the optimum conditions favoring the formation of the colored complexes. The method allows the determination of in the range of 0.05–1.60, 0.05–1.40, and 0.05–1.70 µg mL−1 at λ max 585, 608, and 599 nm using reagents I, II, and III, respectively. For more accurate results, Ringbom optimum concentration ranges were found to be 0.10–1.60 µg mL−1. The molar absorptivity, Sandell sensitivity, detection, and quantification limits are also evaluated. The interfering ions and their tolerance limits have been studied. The method was successfully applied to the determination of uranium from standard ores, geological samples, and synthetic matrices.