Determination of Uranium in High-Grade Uranium Concentrates by an X-ray Emission Spectrographic Method

Abstract

A fast, precise, and accurate x-ray emission spectrographic method has been developed for the determination of uranium in high-grade (70% to 99% U3O8) uranium concentrates. No chemical separations are required. After acid decomposition, yttrium is added as an internal standard, and the uranium in dilute acid solution is determined by x-ray emission techniques. The standard deviation obtained for the average of the mean by analysis of six portions of the same sample is 0.03% U3O8. Such precision is equivalent to that of the more complicated titrimetric methods conventionally used.