Screening diluents to optimize cesium contaminant separation using t-BAMBP extractant.

Abstract

The widespread use of nuclear energy has raised concerns about nuclear safety and radioactive waste management, particularly due to the release of radioactive cesium. This study investigates the use of t-BAMBP (4-tert-butyl-2-(α-methylbenzyl) phenol) for the extraction and separation of cesium from simulate high concentration cesium containing wastewater, focusing on the selection of suitable diluents to enhance the efficiency of the process. We performed a systematic study using density functional theory (DFT) calculations to evaluate the intrinsic properties and interactions of various common diluents with t-BAMBP. The diluents studied include aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, xylene), alkanes (cyclohexane, hexane, heptane), and alcohols (hexanol, octanol). Our computational results revealed that cyclohexane is the most suitable diluent due to its moderate solvation-free energy, high nonpolarity, and optimal balance between solubility and reactivity. Experimental validation confirmed the computational findings. The cyclohexane-diluted t-BAMBP system achieved the highest cesium extraction efficiency of over 94 %, with a separation factor (β_Cs/K) of 767.67. Cyclohexane demonstrated the lowest toxicity and cost among the diluents evaluated, making it a safer and more economical choice for practical applications. The results of this study provide a comprehensive theoretical and experimental basis for the selection of diluents in the t-BAMBP extraction system, offering insights for the sustainable utilization of cesium resources and effective management of radioactive waste.