Functionalized paramagnetic nanoparticles for waste water treatment.

An approach to the design, development and implementation of a new separation technology for use in the decontamination of radioactive waste streams is reported here. Calixarene-crown-6 derivatives with terminal carboxyl groups were synthesised and attached to nano-sized magnetoferritin molecules and their ability to sequester radioactive caesium(i) ions from aqueous solution was demonstrated.