Determination of carbon in amorphous carbon and uranium monocarbide by oxidation with lead (IV) oxide, copper (II) oxide or barium sulfate in an inert atmosphere

Oxidation behavior was studied on amorphous carbon and carbon in uranium monocarbide when lead (IV) oxide, copper (II) oxide and barium sulfate were used as the oxidizing fluxes in helium. The amorphous carbon and the carbon in the carbide were completely extracted with lead oxide in 5 min at 1000°C and in 8 min at 700 and 500°C, respectively. Carbon in two samples was quantitatively extracted at 1000°C with copper oxide in 8 and 5 min, and with barium sulfate in 7 and 5 main, respectively. The rate of extraction of carbon with copper oxide decreased with decreasing temperature. It was found that the mixing ratio of the oxidizing flux to the amorphous carbon or carbide gave effect on the recovery of carbon. The conventional capillary-trap method which is used for the determination of carbon has a disadvantage that, when carbon dioxide is caught in a cold trap (liquid nitrogen), oxygen is also trapped. This disadvantage was eliminated when a stream of helium was used in place of oxygen. Carbon in the sample can be determined with lead oxide, copper oxide or barium sulfate by extracting carbon dioxide at 1000°C for 10 min.