Synthesis and characterization of novel macroporous silica-polymer-calixcrown hybrid supramolecular recognition materials for effective separation of cesium

Two novel macroporous silica-polymer-calixcrown hybrid supramolecular recognition materials, 25,27-bis(n-octyloxy)calix[4]arene-crown-6 (BnOCalix[4]C6)/SiO2-P and 25,27-bis(i-octyloxy)calix[4]arene-crown-6 (BiOCalix[4]C6)/SiO2-P were synthesized by in situ polymerization and impregnation techniques. The obtained materials were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), particle size distribution, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, 29Si solid-state NMR, and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The adsorption of some typical fission and non-fission products Na(I), K(I), Rb(I), Cs(I), Sr(II), Ba(II), La(III), Y(III), Pd(II), Ru(III), Zr(IV), and Mo(VI) onto BnOCalix[4]C6/SiO2-P and BiOCalix[4]C6/SiO2-P in HNO3 solution was investigated. The bleeding of the materials in HNO3 solution was evaluated by analysis of total organic carbon (TOC). BnOCalix[4]C6/SiO2-P and BiOCalix[4]C6/SiO2-P exhibited excellent adsorption ability and high selectivity for Cs(I) over all the other tested metals.