ICP-MS Determination of Trace Amount of Uranium in Copper Concentrates

Sample of copper concentrate was dissolved with HCl and HNO3, and the content of uranium in the sample solution was determined by ICP-MS. Working parameters of the ICP-MS instrument and amounts of acids used for dissolving the sample were optimized. Linear relationship between values of analytical signal and mass concentration of uranium was kept in the range within 40.0 μg·L-1, with detection limit (3S/N) of 0.012 ng·g-1. The proposed method was applied to the determination of uranium in sample of copper concentrate, and test for recovery was made by standard addition method, giving values of recovery in the range of 98.6%-99.4%.