Crown Ethers: Selective Sorbents of Radioactive and Heavy Metals

The experimental data on methods for the preparation of sorbent systems containing crown ethers and their complexing properties with cations of some radioactive and heavy metals were summarized and analyzed. The sorbents in which crown ethers are covalently bonded with the organic or inorganic substrate were shown to be more stable in the treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater from radionuclides and heavy metals. The key factor that determines the efficiency of cation adsorption by crown ether is the fit between the cation size and the cavity diameter of the crown ether.

Automated summary

The experimental data summarized and analyzed the methods for preparing sorbent systems containing crown ethers and their complexing properties with cations of radioactive and heavy metals. The key factor determining the efficiency of cation adsorption by crown ethers is the fit between the cation size and the cavity diameter of the crown ether. Sorbents in which crown ethers are covalently bonded with organic or inorganic substrates were shown to be more stable in treating municipal and industrial wastewater from radionuclides and heavy metals.