Selective separation of germanium(IV) by iminodiacetic acid-type chitosan chelating resin

An iminodiacetic acid-type chitosan chelating resin selectively adsorbed germanium(IV) from aqueous solutions over the range of strongly acidic to weakly basic media. The adsorption capacity of the chitosan resin for germanium(IV) was about 1 mmol g(-1) in acidic media. The selective separation of germanium(IV) from tellurium(VI) and boron was achieved with a column method using the chitosan resin. The breakthrough points 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 recovered 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.