Development of a colorimetric test for quantification of uranium in drinking water

• DOI: 10.1007/s10967-012-2385-7
• Publication Date: 2013-01-12T05:46:19Z
• Authors: Amy E. Hixon; David P. DiPrete; Timothy A. DeVol
• Keywords: uranium; U/TEVA-2; Environmental Engineering; preconcentration; colorimetric test; Br-PADAP; LN3; 01 natural sciences; 6. Clean water; 0104 chemical sciences

A colorimetric method was developed for the determination of uranium in groundwater. The detection limit for the method is approximately 25 μg/L uranium, which is below the maximum contaminant level for uranium in drinking water, 30 μg/L. The method is rapid and requires little technical training to conduct, allowing it to be used by consumers, in the laboratory, or in the field. The two-step technique involves preconcentrating uranium using a U/TEVA-2 extraction chromatographic resin followed by complexation with a pyridylazo indicator dye, 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol. If color change is visible to the eye, the concentration of uranium in groundwater is above the detection limit. Preconcentration using U/TEVA-2 also serves to eliminate metals that may interfere with the quantification of uranium.