Solvent Extraction and Spectrophotometric Determination of Uranium Using α‐Benzoin Oxime as Chelating Agent

Solvent extraction of uranium by a chloroform solution of α‐benzoin oxime was studied and the formation of uranium‐α‐benzoin oxime complex described. The uranium‐α‐benzoin oxime complex has two maximum absorbance at 350 nm and 427 nm. A constant absorbance was obtained for 1 × 10 −3 M uranium when the concentration of α‐benzoin oxime was higher than 1.2 × 10 −2 M. Ions of Ag + , Fe 3+ , V 5+ , Cu 2+ , and W 6+ were found to have interference. A solution containing 0.1–10 mg uranium at pH 1.6–6.8 was extracted with 1 × 10 −3 M −2 × 10 −3 M α‐benzoin oxime solution in chloroform. With single extraction, the maximum amount of uranium passing into organic layer was at least 98%. Under this condition the presence of diverse ions except V 5+ does not significantly interfere the extraction of uranium.