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 (DCs) 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. (author)