Automated system for on‐line adsorptive stripping voltammetric monitoring of trace levels of uranium

An automated system for on‐line monitoring of trace uranium, based on a flow‐through adsorptive stripping operation, is described. The on‐line formation of the uranium‐oxine complex is followed by its adsorptive accumulation and voltammetric quantitation at the downstream working electrode. About 10–60 runs can be made every hour with high reproducibility (RSD of 3–5%) and a detection limit of 0.7 μg/L. The dependence of the peak current on different experimental variables is reported. The sequence of events involved in the adsorptive stripping voltammetric cycle is controlled by a computer. Analogous on‐line monitoring of chromium (VI) are also reported with 36 runs/h (2.1% RSD), and detection limit of 1.5 μg/L. The system holds great promise for field‐based operation.