Analytical Sciences

Application of Capillary Electrophoresis with Laser-induced Fluorescence Detection for the Determination of Trace Neodymium in Spent Nuclear Fuel Using Complexation with an Emissive Macrocyclic Polyaminocarboxylate Probe

Tomoko HARAGA,*,*** Shingo SAITO,** Yoshiyuki SATO,* Shiho ASAI,* Yukiko HANZAWA,* Hitoshi HOSHINO,*** Masami SHIBUKAWA,** Ken-ichiro ISHIMORI,* and Kuniaki TAKAHASHI*

*Nuclear Cycle Backend Directorate, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, 2-4 Shirakata-Shirane, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1195, Japan
**Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
***Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, 6-6-07 Aramaki-Aoba, Aoba, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan

A simple and rapid method with low radiation exposure risk was developed for the determination of neodymium in spent nuclear fuel by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection using a fluorescent probe having a macrocyclic hexadentate polyaminocarboxylate structure. The concentration of Nd(III) in a spent nuclear fuel sample was determined with no interference from various matrix elements, including lanthanides and uranium (at a 200-fold excess), with 92 ± 3% recovery. This is due to high resolution based on establishing a ternary complex equilibrium during migration in which the hydroxyl ion plays an auxiliary role (log K_Ln–L–OH = 3.9 – 5.3).

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