DIRECT AAS DETERMINATION OF CO, CR, CU, MN AND NI IN U3O8 BY ELECTRO-THERMAL ATOMIZATION

An atomic absorption spectrometric method has been developed for the determination of chromium, cobalt, copper, manganese and nickel in U3O8 by electrothermal atomization of 5 mg powder samples. Nanogram amounts of all the elements can be estimated with a precision ranging between 7-12%. The non-specific absorption due to U3O8 for these measurements is negligible. The use of graphite powder with U3O8 in equal or double the sample amount improves sensitivity for the analyte element and prolongs the life of the atomizer. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.