Cation Exchange Separation of Metal Ions in Aqueous Sodium Glycollate Media

Chemical Laboratories, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211 002

Department of Chemistry, Ewing Christian College, Allahabad-211 003

Manuscript received 15 March 1983, revised 13 December 1983, accepted 21 July 1984

The cation exchange behaviour of 20 cations has been studied on strongly acidic Amberlite IR-120 (20-50 mesh, 8-10% cross linkage, Na⁺ form) in aqueous sodium glycollate media. The distribution coefficients (K) determined through batch technique revealed the possibilities of a number of separations. The actual separations of metal ions were obtained on a short resin column of  \(\sim\) 7.5 cm height. The ternary separations were also achieved on \(\sim\) 10 cm long resin column.

The distribution coefficients (K), column elution behaviour, elution curves and results of some of the binary and ternary cation mixtures along with standard deviations are presented.