Solvent Extraction and Spectrophotometric Determination of Uranium (VI) Using 2,2′-[1,2-phenylenebis(nitrilomethylidene)]bisphenol (BSOPD) as an Analytical Reagent

Abstract

2,2'-[1,2-phenylenebis(nitrilomethylidene)]bisphenol (BSOPD) is synthesized in the laboratoryand characterized by NMR, IR and elemental analysis for its purity. This reagent forms a yellowcomplex with U(VI) which can be quantitatively extracted into chloroform at pH 10. This complex inchloroform shows an intense absorption peak at 413.0 nm. It is observed that Beer’s law is obeyed inthe range of 2.0-10.0 ppm of metal solution. It gives a linear and reproducible graph under appropriateconditions, the complex having a molar absorptivity of 3.69 x 104 L mol-1·cm-1. Sandell’s sensitivitycalculated was found to be 4.4 x 10-3μg·cm-2. Nature of the extracted complex, determined by Job’scontinuous variation method, Slope ratio method and Mole ratio method shows that the compositionof U(VI) : BSOPD complex is 1:4. Interference by various ions is studied and masking agents usedwhere required. The proposed method has been applied for the determination of U(VI) in monazite sand and synthetic samples. The results of the analysis are found to be comparable with those obtained by standard method.