Preparation and analytical properties of a chelating resin containing cysteine groups

A macroporous, cross-linked polyacrylonitrile copolymer was synthesized, the nitrile groups were converted to carboxylic acid by hydrolysis, and these carboxylic acid groups were treated with L-cysteine and 1,6-hexanediol (binding agent). Studies of the basic characteristics of this resin showed that it was highly selective for silver(I), mercury(II), gold(III) and platinum(IV) in aqueous acidic solution, the maximum capacities being 0.97, 0.65, 1.22 and 0.39 mmol g^-1 of dry resin, respectively. These four metal ions can be separated from each other, or concentrated from very dilute solutions, on a short column of the resin. The effects of different acids and of various common metal ions are reported.