Cation exchange behaviour of silver at low concentrations

The distribution coefficient of silver for a strongly acidic cation exchanger of the sulfonic acid type was measured as a function of time, pH, silver concentration and bulk electrolyte concentration. At lower pH, the distribution coefficient increases with increasing pH with a slope of +1. The distribution coefficient then decreases with increasing pH with a slope between -0.2 and -0.3. The tendency was the same for four brands of exchanger. The distribution coefficient decreases with decreasing silver concentration. The phenomena cannot be attributed to silver hydrolysis or silver radiocolloid formation and should be ascribed to the substance released from the exchange resin itself. (author)