Strategies based on calixcrowns for the detection and removal of cesium ions from alkali-containing solutions

Calixcrowns have proved to be excellent sequestering agents for cesium ions, even in the concurrent presence in solution of massive amounts of other alkali metal ions. This property has rendered such ligands as good candidates for the selective detection/removal of cesium ions from radioactive liquid wastes coming from nuclear processes. Strategies based on the anchoring of such macrocyclic ligands onto silica-gel supports for ion chromatography analysis and on their inclusion into polymeric membranes are summarized here. Methods to correct for contaminants present on the stationary-phase surfaces are briefly outlined. Advantages offered by the methods presented are also highlighted.