A separation method to overcome the interference of calcium on the uranium determination by ICP-ES

Abstract

The accurate determination of uranium by Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometry (ICP-ES) in calcium phosphate matrix suffers from a severe ionization interference due to the high calcium content of the samples. This leads to a signal depression up to 30%. For reliable determinations an extraction method based on anion exchange resin column chromatography is described which separates uranium for the needs in ICP-ES measurements. The results are comparable with results obtained by other determination methods. In addition, reference materials were measured to verify this extraction procedure.

Comparison Method for Uranium Determination in Ore Sample by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES)

“…Intensities of U 367.007 nm in the presence of Ca and Fe were degraded as 33% compared with the aqueous standard method, consistent with previous studies. 10–17 Comparing robust conditions with non-robust conditions showed that the intensity of the lines was decreased from 77 to 54% for the matrix matching method under robust conditions, optimized using Mg(II) (280.270 nm)/Mg(I) (285.213 nm) ratio. Considering high applied power, low nebulizer gas flow rate, and sample uptake flow rate also optimized the instrument conditions.…”

“…9 The introduction of easily ionized elements, mainly calcium, can cause matrix effects in ICP-OES that are generally found in great amounts in various types of samples, such as seawater, sediment, and rock samples. 16 Zaror et al 17 found that the signal depression of uranium reached up to 30% in the presence of calcium. The determination of uranium by ICP-OES is also affected seriously by iron, thorium, and vanadium, if present in the matrices.…”

Straightforward determination of U, Th, and Hf at trace levels using ultrasonic nebulization and axial view ICP OES

“…Matrix separation/analyte pre-concentration has been conducted to avoid spectral interference and improve the LOD for U, Hf and Th. [2][3][4][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Nevertheless, the use of organic solvents should be avoided in this step since it may extinguish the ICP and/or increase spectral and non-spectral interference by carbon. Zaror et al 13 employed anion exchange chromatography for Ca separation in order to avoid interference caused by Ca on U determination by ICP OES.…”

The Cyclic Renewable Mercury Film Silver Based Electrode for Determination of Uranium(VI) Traces Using Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry

“…Several techniques have been developed for uranium determination in environmental samples, e.g., spectrophotometry [1], a-spectrometry [2], neutron activation [3], complexometric titration [4], gas chromatography [5], radio activation [6], inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry [7], pulse polarography [8]. However, these methods are not sufficiently sensitive to determine uranium(VI) traces directly.…”