HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY (HPLC), ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY (AAS) AND INFRARED-SPECTROSCOPY DETERMINATION AND SOLVENT-EXTRACTION OF URANIUM USING BIS (SALICYL ALDEHYDE) PROPYLENE DIAMINE AS ACOMPLEXING AGENT

A new complexing agent bis (salicyl aldehyde) propylene diamine has be en used for the determination of uranium in mineral rock samples, base d on complex formation in aqueous solution of the reagent at pH 6. Thi s was followed by extracting the metal constituents in chloroform. HPL C determination of the extracted sample was performed with Hypersil OD S, 3 mu column. The complex was eluted from the reverse phase using a ternary mixture of methanol: acetonitrile: water (40: 30: 30 v/v/v) wi th UV detection at 260 nm. Iron(III), nickel(II), cobalt(II), palladiu m(IT), oxovanadium(IV) were completely separated from the rock mixture and detected using HPLC. These metals did not interfere with the uran ium detection. The linear calibration range and detection limit have b een ascertained using standard procedures. These results were further confirmed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and Infrared Spectrosco py. These techniques support that the reagent used to form a complex w ith a rock sample separates uranium and other metals upon extraction a nd no interference of any of the metals with each other or with uraniu m was observed.