Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Separation of Uranium and Thorium for 230Th-U Dating of Submarine Hydrothermal Sulfides
Published on: May 20, 2019
Determination of uranium in minerals and rocks
1Institute for Analytical Chemistry, Analysis of Nuclear Raw Materials Division, University of Vienna, Währingerstrasse 38, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Abstract:
A method is described for the determination of uranium in minerals and rocks by spectrophotometry and fluorimetry. After treatment of the sample with hydrochloric acid, uranium is separated from matrix elements by adsorption on a column of the strongly basic anion-exchange resin Dowex 1 x 8 from an organic solvent system consisting of IBMK, tetrahydrofuran and 12M hydrochloric acid (1:8:1 v v ). Following removal of iron, molybdenum and co-adsorbed elements by washing first with the organic solvent system and then with 6M hydrochloric acid, the uranium is eluted with 1M hydrochloric acid. In the eluate, uranium is determined by means of the spectrophotometric arsenazo III method or fluorimetrically. The suitability of the method for the determination of both trace and larger amounts of uranium was tested by analysing numerous geochemical reference samples with uranium contents in the range 10(-1)-10(4) ppm. In practically all cases very good agreement of results was obtained.
Related Concept Videos
Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium
Radioactive Decay and Radiometric Dating
Determination of Crystal Structures
Sample Preparation for Analysis: Advanced Techniques
Acid digestion with strong acids is commonly used to dissolve inorganic materials that are insoluble (do not dissolve) in water. This method can be useful for...
Gravimetry: Inorganic And Organic Precipitating Agents
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Lab
Solutions containing organic solvents, such as low-molecular-mass alcohols, esters, or ketones, enhance absorbances by increasing nebulizer...

