Analytical approaches to the speciation of lanthanides at solid-water interfaces

•Analysis of the mechanism of interaction of lanthanides at solid surfaces.•We describe analytical approaches to speciation of lanthanides.•We summarize advantages and disadvantages of different analytical approaches.•We look forward to new analytical approaches to speciation of lanthanides.

We review the analysis of lanthanide speciation at solid-water interfaces. We summarize the various mechanisms of lanthanide interaction with sorbent surfaces, such as surface complexation, precipitation and surface-induced redox reactions. There are a wide variety of available analytical techniques for understanding the speciation of lanthanides on surfaces and the reaction mechanisms of sorption. We also review recent advances in the utilization of quantum chemistry that widen the scope of lanthanide speciation studies. We review, summarize and discuss in detail the speciation of lanthanides, mainly Eu(III), at natural or synthetic mineral surfaces, and the available analytical techniques. We aim to collate valuable information about recent results for surface speciation analysis of lanthanides at solid-water interfaces.