Sorption of metal ions on a weak acid cation-exchange resin containing carboxylic groups

The sorption properties of a commercial resin containing a carboxylic active group, Amberlite® CG-50, for magnesium, calcium, copper and zinc were investigated on the basis of the Donnan model. It is assumed that the main driving force for the sorption of divalent metal ions is the complexation by the carboxylic groups inside the resin. Under typical batch conditions (large excess of ligand) only the 1:2 complexes are formed for all metal ioas considered, whereas in aqueous solution only 1:1 complexes are reported for calcium and magnesium and the monomeric analogues of the active group of Amberlite® CG-50. The intrinsic complexation constants obtained from the batch experiments agree well with those in aqueous solution. The same holds for the intrinsic complexation constant evaluated from Chromatographic experiments. This confirms some previous results obtained with a chelatteg resin containing an iminodiacetic group, Chelex 100. The values of the complexation constants for the carboxylic groups found with Chelex 100 are in agreement with those found with Amberlite® CG-50.