VOLTAMMETRIC STUDY ON ION TRANSFER OF URANIUM(VI) ION BETWEEN AQUEOUSAND NITROBENZENE PHASES IN THE PRESENCE OF BIS(DIPHENYLPHOSPHORYL)METHANE

The ion transfer of UO22+ ion across an aqueous(w)/nitrobenzene(NB) in terface was investigated by ion-transfer polarography using an aqueous electrolyte dropping electrode. It vias found that the transfer of UO 22+ from w to NE was facilitated by bis(diphenylphosphoryl)methane (BD PPM), and that the transfer reaction had irreversible characteristics. A potential generated at the UO(2)(2+)ion-selective electrode, which was prepared while referring to ion transfer data, revealed a reversib le Nernstian response against the concentration of the UO22+ ion in an aqueous sample solution. The irreversible nature of the UO22+ transfe r observed in the polarogram resulted from such slow processes involve d in the ion transfer reaction as the adsorption/desorption of BDPPM o r the UO22+-BDPPM complex at the w/NB interface. The feasibility of th e electrolytic separation of uranium from neptunium and plutonium on t he basis of a selective ion-transfer reaction is discussed.