Separation performance of sodium, lithium, potassium and hydrogen ionic forms of a commercial cation exchanger, Diaion UBK 530, based on a styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer resin support was studied. The adsorbents were applied to the separation of galactooligosaccharides from their mixture with lactose, glucose and galactose. Separation performance of the hydrogen ionic form of the adsorbent was superior to that of other adsorbent forms. A much higher yield of galactooligosaccharides of the requested purity was achieved for this adsorbent form owing to its better kinetic properties. Adsorption properties of individual adsorbents were discussed in relation to possible adsorption mechanisms.
