The Spectrophotometric Determination of Uranium with Xylenol Orange

Abstract

Abstract A new spectrophotometric method for determining trace amounts of uranium has been developed. This method is based on the coloration of xylenol orange with uranium (IV) formed by the reduction of uranium(VI) in the presence of ascorbic acid. The effects of the pH value, reagent and boiling time have been thoroughly investigated, and experimental conditions which make possible the determination of 20 to 100 μg. of uranium have been devised. The mole ratio of the complex between uranium and this reagent has also been discussed.