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Determination of trace impurities in uranium hexafluoride by ICP-AES (CAT#: STEM-ST-0177-WXH)

Introduction

Uranium hexafluoride (UF6), (sometimes called "hex") is an inorganic compound with the formula UF6. Uranium hexafluoride is a volatile white solid that reacts with water, releasing corrosive hydrofluoric acid. The compound reacts mildly with aluminium, forming a thin surface layer of AlF3 that resists any further reaction from the compound. UF6 is used in the process of enriching uranium, which produces fuel for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.




Principle

Atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) is a method of chemical analysis that uses the intensity of light emitted from a flame, plasma, arc, or spark at a particular wavelength to determine the quantity of an element in a sample. The wavelength of the atomic spectral line in the emission spectrum gives the identity of the element while the intensity of the emitted light is proportional to the number of atoms of the element. The sample may be excited by various methods.
Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) uses an inductively coupled plasma to produce excited atoms and ions that emit electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths characteristic of a particular element.

Applications

Common applications of atomic emission spectroscopy are in the analysis of trace elements in soils, water, metals, biological specimens, clinical specimens, food, physical evidence such as glass, and other solids.

Procedure

1. Prepare sample for analysis
2. Convert solution into aerosol
3. Introduce aerosol into excitation source
4. Atomization and excitation
5. Detection of emission lines

Materials

• ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma) source
• Atomizer
• Monochromators
• Detectors
• Amplifiers