DETERMINATION OF TRACE Hf, Zr, Sc, Th AND Ag IN U_3O_8, BY HORIZONTAL ICP/AES AFTER SEPARATION WITH TBP LEVEXTREL RESIN CHROMATOGRAPHY

A method for the determination of trace Hf, Zr, Sc, Th and Ag in U_3O_8 isreported. The sample is dissolved in HNO_3--HF mixture and converted to UO_2Cl_2with HCl. The uranium is separated by TBP levextrel resin chromatography.The impurity elements in aqueous phase are determined by horizontal ICP/AES.With a sample of 0.3g, the determination limit of Hf, Zr, Th is 0.23×10~(-6), Sc is0.023×10~(-6), Ag is 0.24×10~(-6), the recovery for all the 5 elements is in the rangeof 84%--114%, the relative standard deviation (RSD) is less than 10%. Thismethod is simple, rapid, the determination limit is low and it may be useful forthe determination of impurity elements in the other uranium compounds too.