Effective separation of cesium with a new silica-calix[4]biscrown material by extraction chromatography

To separate Cs(I), a new silica-calix[4]biscrown hybrid material, 1,3-calix[4]arene-bis(naph-crown-6) (CalixBNaphC)@SiO2-P, was synthesized by impregnation in situ and immobilization of agent into the pores of the SiO2-P particles. The materials were characterized by SEM images, FT-IR spectra, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms and Si-29 solid-state CP/MAS NMR The adsorption of Cs(I) and some typical metals onto CalixBNaphC@SiO2-P was investigated by examining the effect of contact time and HNO3 concentration in the range of 0.4-6.0 M. Enrichment and recovery of Cs(I) in batch experiments were performed by six adsorption and desorption cycles. The removal of Cs(I) was more than 99.1%. Based on the batch results, the chromatographic separation of Cs(I) from 3.0 M HNO3 was conducted by CalixBNaphC@SiO2-P packed column. The effective separation of Cs(I) was achieved utilizing 3.0 M HNO3 and water as eluents. A new process entitled PCEC (Partitioning of Cesium by Extraction Chromatography) for individual separation of Cs(I) was developed. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.