Spectrophotofluorometric determination of terbium and europium in potassium carbonate solution

The conditions for the spectrophotofluorometric determination of terbium and europium, in solutions of potassium carbonate, have been established. The apparent excitation and fluorescence wavelengths used, respectively, are 245 mmu and 550 mmu for terbium and 400 mmu and 620 mmu for europium. The fluorescence varies linearly with the concentration of terbium and europium in the range 0.3-70 mug, of terbium/ml and 4-800 mug of europium/ml. Large amounts of gadolinium, lutetium and yttrium do not interfere. Cerium(IV) interferes seriously.