Determination of small amounts of TBP and DBP in uranyl nitrate solutions.

ABSTRACT

Tri- and dibutylphosphate (TBP and DBP) in concentrated uranyl nitrate solution are determined by a method based on the solvent extraction of zirconium-95. The distribution ratio of zirconium-95 between dilute solutions of TBP and DBP in dodecane and 10M hydrochloric acid and 1Mnitric acid respectively is measured. There is a logarithmic relationship between the distribution ratio and concentration of TBP and DBP, which enables them to be determined rapidly and with an error of +/- 10% over the range 1-100ppm of TBP and 40-600 ppm of DBP. The lower limit is 0.5 ppm for TBP and 10 ppm for DBP.