ON ATOMIZATION OF URANIUM IN PLUTONIUM MATRIX USING ETA-AAS

Atomization processes for uranium in aqueous media and in the presence of a plutonium matrix have been studied and a chemical mechanism is p roposed. These studies have been utilized for the determination of ura nium in plutonium by Electrothermal Atomization-Atomic Absorption Spec trometry (ETA-AAS) within the constraints of its stable carbide formin g tendency and complexity caused by formation of plutonium suboxide at high temperatures. In spite of these limitations the analytical range obtained for determination of uranium is 2.5-100 ng with a sample ali quot of 5 mu L containing 5 mg/mL plutonium concentration. The precisi on of the method is evaluated as 9% RSD.