Inventors:
Reed M. Izatt - Provo UT
James J. Christensen - Provo UT
Richard T. Hawkins - Orem UT
Assignee:
Brigham Young University - Provo UT
International Classification:
G21F 904, G21F 912
Abstract:
A process of recovering cesium ions from mixtures of ions containing them and other ions, e. g. , a solution of nuclear waste materials, which comprises establishing a separate source phase containing such a mixture of ions, establishing a separate recipient phase, establishing a liquid membrane phase in interfacial contact with said source and recipient phases, said membrane phase containing a ligand, preferably a selected calixarene as depicted in the drawing, maintaining said interfacial contact for a period of time long enough to transport by said ligand a substantial portion of the cesium ion from the source phase to the recipient phase, and recovering the cesium ion from the recipient phase. The separation of the source and recipient phases may be by the membrane phase only, e. g. , where these aqueous phases are emulsified as dispersed phases in a continuous membrane phase, or may include a physical barrier as well, e. g.