Observations on the Determination of Uranium in Waters by Direct Current Argon Plasma Emission Spectrometry

Abstract

This paper reports observations on the determination of uranium in ground and mine waters by direct current argon plasma emission spectrometry. An enhancement effect due to different concentrations of six sodium salts and calcium nitrate was characterized. When the salt concentration of the waters was greater than the aqueous uranium standards, an erroneous uranium signal was found. The method of standard additions showed that direct calibration with aqueous uranium standards containing 0.05M sodium acetate was satisfactory. The use of matrix matched uranium standards is recommended to compensate for large enhancements in the uranium emission signal that may result from the presence of naturally occurring salts. Concentrations of uranium in ground waters ranged from 5 ppm to 16 ppm depending on sampling site and in mine waters from 2 ppm to several hundred ppm.

Key Words:

• Direct Current Argon Plasma Emission Spectrometry
• Interferences
• Uranium
• Waters