Affinity capillary electrophoresis in studying the complex formation equilibria of radionuclides in aqueous solutions

Interaction of radionuclides with inorganic and organic species present in natural environment plays an important role in their eventual dispersion. The complex equilibria established in the aqueous phase cause significant changes in the migration properties of radionuclides. Affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) can be fruitful in studying these equilibria. This paper reviews the recent methodological advances of the use of ACE in studying the complex equilibria of radionuclides in aqueous solutions. Special attention is paid to the determination of a number of species involved in equilibrium, species constituents (number of ligands, protonated, deprotonated), the influence of ionic strength and temperature on stability constants of complex species formed. Use of ACE for the determination of the main thermodynamic parameters (the molar Gibbs energy (Delta(r)G(m)), the molar enthalpy (Delta H-r(m)) and the molar entropy (Delta S-r(m))) of complex formation reactions is also discussed. These data are essential to predict dispersion of radionuclides in the natural environment.