Cloud point extractive spectrophotometric method for determination of uranium in raffinate streams during spent nuclear fuel reprocessing

A cloud point extractive spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of uranium in raffinate streams. Uranium was extracted to a tri n-octyl phosphine oxide in o-Xylene from raffinate. Uranium present in organic phase was analyzed by spectrophotometry after cloud point extraction of U-PAR (4-(2-Pyridylazo) resorcinol) complex to cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide-Triton-X-100 medium. The molar absorption coefficient for uranium complex was found to be 2.2 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1). The relative standard deviation for the determination of uranium was found to be 3.9% and with a minimum detection limit of 2 mu g uranium per aliquot.