Extractive Studies for Separation and Preconcentration of Uranium(VI) and Thorium(IV) Ions from Liquid Samples prior their Determination

Abstract

The interesting demand of radioactive elements in nuclear energy program require a suitable method for their separation, preconcentration and determination in various types of samples e.g. rocks, waste effluents, water samples and etc. Actually, these heavy elements have been present virtually everywhere in the earth’s crust. The great interest for their accurate determination at low concentrations arises from their toxicity and the possibility to reach human beings through different pathways. They are known to cause acute toxicological effects for human and their compounds are potential occupational carcinogens. Modern analytical chemistry is characterized by hyphenated analytical methods which involve a combination of a separation and/or sensitive detection technique with a preconcentration step. The latter operation is a consequence of the problems encountered in the chemical analysis of real analytical samples such as low analyte concentrations (in many cases incompatible with quantification limits of instrumental methods) and high concentrations of matrix interference species present in these complex samples, especially those of environmental origin. Consequently, there is an ongoing need for the development of separation and preconcentration procedures prior to their determination which should be safe, rapid, convenient, and accurate.