Studies on the radiolytic stability of newly developed solvent systems containing four calix-crown-6 ligands for radio-cesium recovery

Radiolytic stability of solvent systems containing four commercially available calix-crown-6 ligands termed as calix[4]arene-bis-crown-6 (CC), calix[4]arene-benzo-bis-crown-6 (CBC), calix[4]arene-naphtho-bis-crown-6 (CNC), and bis-(octyloxy)calix[4]arene-mono-crown-6 (CMC) dissolved in phenyl trifluoromethyl sulphone (PTMS) was studied which followed the order: CBC > CC > CNC ~ CMC. The radiolytic stability was evaluated by the absolute distribution ratio ( D Cs ) vales at a given concentration of nitric acid as well as the nature of the extracted species. The radiolytic degradation products were identified by GC–MS analysis. The present study indicates that CBC in PTMS can be used as a solvent for radio-cesium recovery with good recycling possibilities.