SELECTIVE SEPARATION OF GERMANIUM(IV) BY IMINODIACETIC ACID-TYPE CHITOSAN CHELATING RESIN

An iminodiacetic acid-type chitosan chelating resin selectively adsorb ed germanium(IV) from aqueous solutions over the range of strongly aci dic to weakly basic media. The adsorption capacity of the chitosan res in for germanium(IV) was about 1 mmol g(-1) in acidic media. The selec tive separation of germanium(IV) from tellurium(VI) and boron was achi eved with a column method using the chitosan resin. The breakthrough p oints of germanium(IV) in the chitosan resin columns were about 70 bed volumes over the range of strongly acidic to weakly basic media. The germanium(IV) adsorbed on the column was almost quantitatively recover ed by elution with aqueous sodium hydroxide. On the other hand, it was difficult to separate germanium(IV) from tellurium(VI) using a column of the polyamine-type chitosan chelating resin.