Tellurium and selenium can be sorbed from hydrochloric acid and hydrob
romic acid solution by both polyether and polyester-based polyurethane
foam. Although some acid is needed, the substitution of sodium chlori
de or sodium bromide increases the extraction significantly. Tellurium
is extracted rapidly with > 99% sorbed in 2 min from 1.0/5.0M and 2.0
/4.0M hydrochloric acid/sodium bromide. Selenium can also be sorbed qu
antitatively but much more slowly so that a separation is possible bas
ed on the relative rates of extraction. The capacity of polyether foam
is 3% by weight of tellurium.