Dendrimer-coated magnetic particles for radionuclide separation

Magnetic particles were synthesised for radionuclide removal from nuclear wastes by magnetic separation. Dendrimers with terminal amino groups attached to the particle surface were used to bind chelating groups for lanthanides and actinides. This led to a 50–400-fold increase of the distribution coefficients for europium and americium in comparison to the reference particles without the dendrimers. Back-extraction studies have demonstrated the possibility of multiple particle recycling.