Synthesis and characterization of a cesium-selective macroporous silica-based supramolecular recognition material with high stability

To design new and efficient supramolecular recognition material, a macroporous organic-inorganic bis(n-amyloxy)calix[4]arene-crown-6 (BnACalix[4]C6) material for separation of cesium from acidic solution was developed. The results of SEM, TG-DSC, FT-IR, ²⁹Si NMR, and XRD characterizations indicated that BnACalix[ 4]C6 molecules were successfully impregnated into the pores of SiO₂-P support. Cs(I) was shown to be both strongly and selectively adsorbed by this material at 3.0 M HNO₃. The total organic carbon values showed that the leakage of BnACalix[4]C6 from BnACalix[4]C6/SiO₂-P was below 0.1 %. Thus, BnACalix[4]C6/SiO₂-P is a promising candidate for separation of Cs(I) from acidic HAW in SPEC process. (author)