Absorption of amines on cation exchange resins

All the amines studied are absorbed in excess of the exchange capacity bysulfonated polystyrene resins from aqueous solutions; the absorption is greatest with benzylamine, whose molecular structure is the closest to that of the monomer of the resin. The absorption is greater, then less the crosslinking of the resin, and it is influenced by the electrostatic field of the resin cations. There is no excess absorption from solvents such as alcohols, acetic acid or dioxane. The absorption characteristics of amines are sufficiently different that separations by elution chromatography on cation exchange resins are possible. Two such separations have been demonstrated. For quantitative analytical use, however, it would be wise to use very fine mesh resins on account of the slowness of diffusion of large amine molecules within the resins.