Conductometric determination of carbon in uranium carbide and its solution in nitric acid

A simple but accurate method has been developed for the determination of carbon in uranium carbide powders/pellets as well as in solutions of uranyl nitrates. The methodology involves quantitative conversion of carbon present in the sample to carbon dioxide that is subsequently absorbed in a dilute solution of barium hydroxide. The conductivity shift of the barium hydroxide solution is monitored on-line continuously using a laboratory-built PC-based conductivity measurement system that has been developed in-house based on the direct conversion of conductance to the digital pulse frequency. A new gas absorption cell has been designed to ensure quantitative absorption during the residence time of the gas in the cell. The method is sensitive, accurate and precise to 1–3% at 600–1000 μg of carbon in samples of uranium carbide.