Adsorption behaviour of a number of metals on weakly basic ion-exchangers in methanol-hydrochloric acid mixtures.

Many metals are not strongly adsorbed on DEAE-cellulose from aqueous hydrochloric acid media. However, some metals can be adsorbed on DEAE-cellulose from methanol-hydrochloric acid media. Distribution coefficients of Zn, Cd, Hg(II) and Bi(III), which show pronounced adsorption, are presented as functions of the methanol and the acid concentrations. Differences in the distribution coefficient between the four metals and a considerable number of other metals are large enough to permit good separations on columns. Among the platinum group metals, Pd(II), Ir(IV) and Pt(IV) are adsorbed from the mixed solvents and may be separated from large quantities of base metals such as Fe(III), Co(II), Ni and Cu(II).