Separation methods for chemical speciation of radionuclides and metals in environmental matrices

Possibilities and problems of experimental differentiation of two chemical or particle forms of element M(A≡central atom or group, B≡complex, metalorganic or bioinorganic species, colloid, etc.) between which mutual equilibria can exist at their partition in two-phase systems, when the gross (analytical) concentrations are determined in each phase (by AAS, NAA, or radiometrically) are outlined for: static distribution (batch separation) between two immiscible phases, when both the partial concentrations of A and B and their distribution coefficients generally can be determined by a single or fractional separation, dynamic distribution (chromatographic separation) between the peaks of two metal species, when the potentialities can be strongly affected by secondary equilibria or when the sample-eluent interactions can be assessed. (author) 40 refs