Para-tert-butylcalix[4]arene as promising complexing agent for removal of the strontium from the aqueous medium

Strontium-90 is one of radioactive nuclear fallout products, can cause serious health effects. Efficient techniques are needed to remove radioactive strontium from contaminated persons. In this study complexation properties of the p-tert -butylcalix[4]arene has been evaluated against cold strontium nitrate. Ultra violet-visible (UV-vis) and fluorescence spectrophotometric techniques were used for the qualitative analytical screening and the inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) technique used for the quantitative complexation of p-tert -butylcalix[4]arene with strontium nitrate. UV-vis, fluorescence spectroscopy and ICP-AES studies confirmed the complexation of p-tert -butylcalix[4]arene and strontium. Extraction study of strontium from picric acid by trans-chelation method proves that p-tert -butylcalix[4]arene is nearly 87% ± 3% effective. Complexation can be attributed to the cation-lone pair interaction and the bonding between the Sr 2+ and the hydroxyl group of the p-tert -butylcalix[4]arene implying its promise as a complexing agent for the removal of strontium.