Solvent extraction behavior of p-tert-butylsulfonylcalix [4]arene (SC4A) towards Cs(I) and Sr(II) from aqueous solutions was studied with respect to the effects of contact time, pH value, SC4A concentration, nitrate concentration and temperature. The extraction of Na(I), K(I), Mg(II), Ca(II), Ba(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Ce(III) was also investigated. It was demonstrated that SC4A can sequester both Cs(I) and Sr(II) efficiently from aqueous solutions. According to extraction experiments, Fourier transform infrared and 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the metal-SC4A complex, authors proposed a possible mechanism involving formation of an adjustable cavity from two SC4A molecules for the complexation of one alkaline earth metal ion, and the size of the adjustable cavity changes depending on the ion within an appropriate range. Irradiation stability of the SC4A was tested, the results indicated that the main structure of SC4A remained unchanged when the temperature was below 400˝C, and SC4A maintains excellent extraction ability for Cs(I) and Sr(II) under an irradiation dose of 1.0ˆ10 4~1 .1ˆ10 6 Gy.