Magnetically assisted chemical separation process is an efficient method used widely in separating radionuclides and heavy metals in environmental samples. It is simple, compact and cost-effective, with less secondary waste streams. Tributyl phosphate(TBP)-coated magnetic poly(styrene-divinylbenzene)(Pst-DVB)nano-particles were synthesized and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, thermogravimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The application of TBP-coated magnetic Pst-DVB particles in separating low concentration of uranium from aqueous media was evaluated, and the equilibrium adsorption isotherm was investigated. Our results indicate that the TBP-coated magnetic Pst-DVB particles may be of potential application for uranium separation.
