Application of radioisotopes in column chromatography on substituted celluloses--II. The separation of gold from silver, iron and other metals.

The chromatographic behaviour of several metals has been studied on columns of natural and substituted celluloses, by using radioisotopes. It has been found that gram and nanogram amounts of gold are not adsorbed on natural cellulose, and consequently gold can be separated from nanogram amounts of silver, iron, zinc, cadmium, chromium, manganese and cobalt. Gold has a limited tendency to form complexes with the functional groups of the celluloses, but the other metals mentioned formed very stable complexes. The results have also been compared with those obtained for mercury.