Speciation of Polycarboxylates in Aqueous Solutions : Application of Laser-Induced Luminescence Spectrometry for Europium(III) Ion

Abstract

Laser-induced luminescence measurement is applied to determining the hydration number of europium(III) bound with polycarboxylate ion, like polyacrylate. The hydration number revealed to be a function of pH or ionic strength for all polycarboxylates studied, influenced by conformation of polycarboxylate anion in the solution. This demonstrates that the luminescence measurement technique is useful both for understanding the physicochemical properties of polyelectrolyte molecule and for speciation of lanthanide(III) and actinide(III) in aqueous solution systems.