Removal of 90Sr from nitric acid solutions with sorbents based on di-tert-butyldicyclohexyl-18-crown-6

Abstract

A series of impregnated sorbents based on di-tert-butyldicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 (DTBDCH18C6), various diluents (1-octanol, nitrobenzene, telomeric alcohol n3), and supports (Porolas-Т, LPS-500, hydrophobized silica gel) for removing tracer and weighable amounts of Sr ions from nitric acid solutions were prepared. The distribution coefficient of tracer amounts of ⁹⁰Sr on all the synthesized sorbents increases with an increase in the HNO₃ concentration in the range 1–7 M. The most pronounced increase in the sorption occurs with an increase in the HNO₃ concentration to 3 M. The maximal distribution coefficient of ⁹⁰Sr (K_d = 158 cm³ g^–1) is reached for the sorbent based on DTBDCH18C6 and 1-octanol in 7 M HNO₃. Experiments on sorption of weighable amounts of Sr²⁺ ions show that the static capacity of all the prepared sorbents for Sr in nitric acid solutions amounts to 4.3, 9.2, and 8.4 mg g^–1 for the sorbents based on 1-octanol, nitrobenzene, and telomeric alcohol n3, respectively. The synthesized sorbents are suitable for radioanalytical determination of Sr radionuclides in liquid radioactive waste and in radioactively contaminated natural objects.