ICP-AES determination of silver after chemical separation from uranium matrix.

The separation of silver from a uranium matrix has been carried out using Cyanex-471X (triisobutylphosphine sulphide) in xylene. The effects of various parameters such as the Cyanex-471X concentration, the nitric acid molarity, the contact time and the nitrate ion concentration on the extraction of silver have been studied. The silver metal ion species extracted into the organic phase was found to be Ag(NO(3)).2S (where S is Cyanex-471X). The stripping of silver into an aqueous medium was carried out with 5% NaHSO(3), followed by its determination using ICP-AES.