POLAROGRAPHIC-BEHAVIOR AND DETERMINATION OF URANIUM(VI) IN ALCOHOLIC SOLUTIONS FROM ORGANIC EXTRACTION PHASES

The determination of U(VI) in organic extraction phases: hydrocarbon-d iethyl-2-hexyl phosphoric acid-trioctylphosphine oxide and hydrocarbon -tri-n-octylamine, diluted by an alcohol has been studied by direct cu rrent polarography, as well as by differential pulse polarography (DPP ). In order to optimise the analytical procedure, miscibility and cond uctivity studies of the mixtures hydrocarbon-alcohol (ethanol, n- and isopropanol and n- and isobutanol) were made after addition of sulphur ic acid as a supporting electrolyte. In the solutions of sulphuric aci d in the alcohol-extractant-hydrocarbon phases, U(VI) gives rise to we ll defined polarograms. Its electroreduction involves a single electro n step in all cases. The DPP peak height is proportional to the U(VI) concentration between 2 X 10(-6) and 2 X 10(-3) M, and the 3 sigma det ection limit is ca. 10(-6) M.