BARC/PUB/2004/0421

 
 

Rapid reduction of U(VI) on activated platinum wire gauze electrode for the primary coulometric determination of uranium

 
     
 
Author(s)

Gopinath, N.; Mirashi, N. N.; Chander, K.; Aggarwal, S. K.
(FCD)

Source

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 2004. Vol. 34 (6): pp. 617-622

ABSTRACT

A large enhancement in the active area of a hollow cylindrical platinum wire gauze electrode was achieved by repetitive multilayer growth of oxide followed by its reduction. Growth of oxide was obtained by a combination of chemical and electrochemical treatments. Enhancement in the active area of the electrode was checked by determining the time taken for the quantitative reduction of U (VI) to (IV) at a controlled potential of) –0.150 V vs SCE in 1 M H2SO4 . A six-fold decrease in the reduction time was observed, indicating a corresponding six-fold increase in the active area of the electrode. The enhanced activity of the electrode was found to decay on ageing. Determination of uranium was carried out by a successive addition technique using the activated platinum wire gauze electrode and carrying out the reduction U(VI) to U(IV) at a controlled potential of ) –0.150 V vs SCE. Precision and accuracy of better than ±0.2% were obtained at 5 to 10 mg levels of uranium. This demonstrates the applicability of a platinum electrode, instead of the conventionally used Hg electrode, for determination of uranium by primary coulometry.

 
 
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