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Time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) is an effective speciation technique for fluorescent metal ions and can be further extended by the parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). The adsorption of Eu(3+) on kaolinite as well as gibbsite as a reference mineral was investigated by TRLFS together with batch adsorption measurements. The PAFAFAC modeling provided the fluorescence spectra, decay lifetimes, and relative intensity profiles of three Eu(3+) surface complexes with kaolinite; an outer-sphere (factor A) complex and two inner-sphere (factors B and C) complexes. Their intensity profiles qualitatively explained the measured adsorption of Eu(3+). Based on the TRLFS results in varied H(2)O/D(2)O media, it was shown that the outer-sphere complex exhibited more rapid fluorescence decay than Eu(3+) aquo ion, because of the energy transfer to the surface. Factor B was an inner-sphere complex, which became dominant at relatively high pH, high salt concentration and low Eu(3+) concentration. Its spectrum and lifetime were similar to those of Eu(3+) adsorbed on gibbsite, suggesting its occurrence on the edge face of the gibbsite layer of kaolinite. From the comparison with the spectra and lifetimes of crystalline or aqueous Eu(OH)(3), factor C was considered as a poly-nuclear surface complex of Eu(3+) formed at relatively high Eu(3+) concentration., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)