Inclusion separation of alkali metals in emulsion liquid membranes by nanobaskets of calix[4]crown-3

Nano-assisted inclusion separation of alkali metals from basic solutions was reported by an inclusion-facilitated emulsion liquid membrane process. The novelty of this study is application of nanobaskets of calixcrown in the selective and efficient separation of alkali metals as both the carrier and the surfactant. For this purpose, two diacids, p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-1,2-crown-3 in the cone and the 1,2alternate conformation, as well as another diacid, p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-1,2-thiacrown-3 in the cone conformation, were synthesized. Their inclusion-extraction parameters were optimized, ...