Analytical Sciences

Liquid Chromatography of Uranium Complexes of Tetradentate Schiff Bases

M. Y. KHUHAWAR, S. N. LANJWANI, and T. M. JEHANGIR

Institute of Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan

Dioxouranium together with copper(II), nickel(II) and iron(II) were extracted in chloroform as complexes of bis(salicylaldehyde)-dl-stilbenediimine (dl-H₂SA₂S) or bis(salicylaldehyde)-meso-stilbenediimine (meso-H₂SA₂S), and separated by liquid chromatography with UV detection. The linear calibration range and detection limits were 40 - 200 ng and 10 ng/injection for each metal ion. The method was applied to the determination of uranium from mineral ore samples at concentrations of 30 - 700 µg/g with coefficients of variation from 3.6 to 5.5%. The relative elution of dioxouranium complexes of different Schiff bases was examined from reversed-phase HPLC; the substitution of methyl and phenyl groups at the bridge position enhanced the column retention of uranyl complexes.

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