Riedel-De Haen Aktiengesellschaft

Peter Burba

Karl Heinrich Lieser

The present invention relates to ion exchange compounds on cellulose basis having formula ##STR1## wherein R is a group that forms chelate complexes with metal ions, and Cell stands for the cellulose matrix. Suitable functional groups R are derivatives of known metal reactants, which show a high degree of selectivity for specific metal ions. The ion exchange compounds are able to fix specifically preferred ions e.g. metal ions even in a considerable excess of foreign ions, for example in concentrated salt solutions. The improved ion exchange compounds of this invention are prepared by reacting the compound ##STR2## with cellulose in the presence of alkali, diazotizing the cellulose derivative resulting therefrom and subsequently coupling couplable compounds which form chelate complexes with metal ions.

Ion exchange compounds on cellulose basis and process for the

Ion exchanges on cellulose basis containing groups of the formula ##STR1## in which R represents a functional group and n is zero or 1 are prepared, when n is zero, by reacting cellulose or a cellulose-like compound with a .beta.-hydroxyethylsulfonyl derivative and, when n is 1, by preparing a cellulose derivative from cellulose and an amino derivative of .beta.-hydroxyethylsulfone, diazotizing the cellulose derivative and introducing R-H functional groups by coupling of ligands capable of being coupled.

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Darmstadt, Germany

Peter Burba