Solvent extraction separation of cesium with dibenzo-24-crown-8 from picrate solution

Cesium (25 g) was extracted with 0.03M DB-24-crown-8 at pH 3.0 from 0.01M picric acid in the presence of 2 ml methanol. It was stripped with 3 M perchloric acid and was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The nature of the extracted species was 111. Dichloromethane was a suitable diluent. Nitric and perchloric acid were the best stripping agents. Cesium was not only separated from alkali and alkaline earth elements but also from zirconium, hafnium, thorium, usually present in fission products. The method is applicable for determination of cesium from real samples.