Calix-Crown-6 is a unique specialty chemical used in the separation of 137Cs from the nuclear waste using a solvent extraction process. The separated 137Cs is converted into non-dispersible sealed cesium glass pencils which are supplied as blood irradiators to different hospitals. The removal of 137Cs from the nuclear waste has the additional advantage of reducing the radio-toxicity as well as the heat load of the waste

1. Specialty Chemical.
2. Used as a solvent extraction system specific for Cesium.
3. Used to recover radioactive 137Cs from nuclear waste.
4. 137Cs is fabricated into Cesium Glass Pencils for use in hospitals as blood irradiators.
5. Useful in reducing the radiotoxic hazards of nuclear waste.
6. Synthesis, Purification, and Quality Control Procedures established.

Specific Application in DAE

1. Supply of radioactive Cesium Glass Pencils for medical use.
2. Nuclear waste management.

1,3-dioctyloxycalix[4]arene-18-crown-6 (Calix-Crown-6) is an extractant which has very high selectivity for Cesium complexation. In a nuclear waste management facility, this extractant is deployed for the selective separation of radioactive cesium, 137Cs, from High Level Liquid Waste via solvent extraction. The separated 137Cs is converted into non-dispersible sealed cesium glass pencils which are supplied as blood irradiators to different hospitals. Here, the radiochemical purity of 137Cs is of utmost importance and this is ensured by the use of the extractant Calix-Crown-6 which selectively separates it from the remaining radionuclides present in the nuclear waste. The removal of 137Cs from the nuclear waste has the additional advantage of reducing the radio-toxicity as well as the heat load of the waste. Calix-Crown-6 has been successfully deployed in Waste Immobilization Plant (WIP), Trombay and is expected to be incorporated in future nuclear waste management facilities as well. To ensure continuous fabrication of the cesium glass pencils for radiotherapy applications as well as from nuclear waste management perspective, the availability of Calix-Crown-6 at a competitive price on commercial scale is of paramount importance.

Calix-crown-6 is a white colored crystalline solid with a required purity of ≥ 99% for process operations.

1. Specialty Chemical.
2. Used as a solvent extraction system specific for Cesium.
3. Used to recover radioactive 137Cs from nuclear waste.
4. 137Cs is fabricated into Cesium Glass Pencils for use in hospitals as blood irradiators.
5. Useful in reducing the radiotoxic hazards of nuclear waste.
6. Synthesis, Purification, and Quality Control Procedures established.

Specific Application in DAE

1. Supply of radioactive Cesium Glass Pencils for medical use.
2. Nuclear waste management.

a. Facilities required

1. Chemical Manufacturing & Research Company.
2. Fully equipped R&D lab (ISO Certified).
3. Reactors in Glass and Stainless Steel.
4. High vacuum distillation and filtration units.
5. Complying with safety and environmental regulations.

b. Manpower Requirement

1. Two skilled workers and one Supervisor (M. Tech. in Chemical Engineering).

c. Raw material Requirement

1. Raw material is easily available in Indian market.