LAUSR

Abstract The complexation of Eu(III) by adipic acid — AdipH2, hexane-1,6-dioic acid —, one of the major hydro-soluble degradation products (HDPs) from radio-oxidized polyesterurethane, is investigated by time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy (TRLS) in NaClO4 ionic medium (0.5 mol·kgw−1). The solubility and deprotonation constants of adipic acid, as well as specific interaction theory (SIT) coefficients of aqueous AdipH2(aq) and adipate ions (AdipH− and Adip2−) were estimated using available literature data in NaCl and NaClO4 ionic media. A 1:1 (EuAdip+) complex is evidenced in TRLS with log10β(0.5 m) = 2.09 ± 0.16. Using reaction constant at another NaClO4 ionic strength from literature, the logarithm of reaction constant log10β° = 3.88 ± 0.40 at 0 ionic strength and specific ion parameter e(EuAdip+, ClO 4 - ) = (0.10 ± 0.40) kgw·mol−1 is estimated. This implies that adipic acid can control the Eu(III) speciation from mildly acidic to mildly basic conditions, but not in highly basic solutions characteristic of cementitious interstitial waters.