Uranium determination in sea water

Abstract

Uranium analyses of sea‐water samples taken from different locations were carried out by the isotope‐dilution method. Uranium was separated by liquid‐liquid extraction from 2000 ml of sea water, for each determination. The small residue of uranium resulting from the chemical separation was analyzed by mounting it on a tantalum filament and examining the U0 2 + thermal ions in a Nier six‐inch radius, 60° sector‐type mass spectrometer. The results show a concentration of 3.1 to 3.5 micrograms of uranium per kilogram of sea water, with a uranium/sahnity ratio of 9.0 to 9.8 X 10 minus;8 .