Intra-group and inter-group separation of lanthanides and actinides by electrophoresis

In the this study, the separation of lanthanum, cerium, samarium, europium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thorium and uranyl ions using capillary electrophoresis was investigated. The 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone as the main ligand and α-hydroxyisobutyric acid as auxiliary ligand were used. Under optimal conditions of pH, ligand concentration, ionic strength, voltage and temperature, the complete separation of studied ions in less than 15 minutes using 1 mM of the original ligand, 50 mM auxiliary ligand, 5 mM sodium nitrate and 5% (v/v) methanol in pH=5.2, temperature 25 oC, applied voltage 25 kV, injection time 6 s and wavelength 210 nm was carried out.