Patent ID: 8133740

Claim:
A method for determining the presence or quantity of uranium in an aqueous test sample, the method comprising: concentrating the uranium in the aqueous test sample, wherein the step of concentrating the uranium is comprised of: a) binding the uranium to an extractant to form a uranium/extractant complex, b) separating the uranium from the extractant by use of a separation agent, interaction between the uranium/extractant complex and the separation agent forming a first complex comprising the uranium, the first complex being more favorable chemically than the uranium/extractant complex; and c) interacting the first complex with a compound to form a second complex comprising the uranium; following the step of concentrating the uranium, interacting the second complex with a detectable substance to form a uranium/detectable substance complex, the uranium/detectable substance complex being more favorable chemically than the second complex; and detecting the complex of the uranium and the detectable substance to obtain information with regard to the presence or quantity of the uranium in the aqueous test sample.