Spectrophotometric Determination of Uranium with Di-2-pyridyl Ketone Benzoylhydrazone

A method for the spectrophotometric determination of uranium (VI) by complexation with Di-2-pyridyl ketone benzoylhydrazone (DPKBH) in 50% (v/v) ethanolic solution is described. Uranium (VI) forms a 1:2 complex with DPKBH. The complex has a maximum absorbance at 377 um. Beer's law is obeyed over the range 0, 2 - 12 ug.m1' 1. The effect of pH, excess reagent, percentage of ethanol (v/v), stability of the complex and the tolerance limit of many metal ions and common anions have been reported. The method has been applied to the determination of uranium in Egyptian monazite sand.