Speciation studies on DTPA using the complementary nature of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence.

Decorporation of radionuclides is of continuous interest in order to reduce doses in case of occupational or accidental human exposure. In the present study, insights into the non-covalent interactions that hold the well-known chelating agent DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) with inorganic elements of interest, such as europium and strontium, and their ability to form stable complexes, are investigated with two spectroscopic techniques, i.e., electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence (TRLIF). First investigations are on DTPA and europium alone and end with a complete study of the Eu-DTPA system. The pH variation allows one to readily investigate whether different species (protonated, hydrolyzed, etc.) exist in the pH range 2-9 and evaluate the stoichiometry and conditional stability constant for the Eu-DTPA complex. Additional experiments by ESI-MS are reported for Sr(II) in interaction with DTPA and EDTA.