Process development studies on the recovery of caesium specific calix-crown-6 extractant from actual spent calix solution for efficient spent solvent management

Abstract

This paper reports the studies carried out on the development of a process for the recovery of 1,3-dioctyloxycalix[4]arene-18-crown-6 (CC-6) from the spent solvent generated during industrial scale separation of 137Cs from High Level Liquid Waste (HLLW). Initial works involved the validation of a conceptual process design and optimization of the process parameters with a simulated solvent. The optimized process was then tested with actual spent solvent to recover calix-crown-6. Such a process to recover undegraded and potentially re-usable calix-crown-6 from the spent solvent has been attempted for the first time with the aim of value recovery and reduced spent solvent management burden.