Chelate resin prepared by reacting butane-1,2,3,4-tetra-carboxylic acid or anhydride with polyethylene polyamine

A process for preparing a resin having the formula (I):

• ##STR17## wherein, m stands for an integer of 2 to 6 or for a mixture having an average value of 4 to 5,
• n stands for a mixture having an average value of 4 to 10,
• X stands for --OH or --NH--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.m NH.sub.2, and
• Y signifies H or ##STR18## which comprises reacting butane-1,2,3,4-tetra-carboxylic acid or anhydride thereof with polyethylenepolyamine in the absence of presence of solvent.

A process for preparing a resin having the formula (III):

• ##STR22## wherein, m signifies an integer of 2 to 6 or a mixture having an average value of 4 to 5,
• n signifies a mixture having an average value of 4 to 10,
• X' signifies ##STR23## Y signifies H or ##STR24## Z signifies H atom, carboxy lower alkyl group, provided that Z is not hydrogen atom in all of its occurences, which comprises reacting a resin having the formula (I):
• ##STR25## wherein, m stands for an integer of 2 to 6 or for a mixture having an average value of 4 to 5,
• n stands for a mixture having an average value of 4 to 10,
• X stands for --OH or --NH--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.m NH.sub.2, and
• Y signifies H or ##STR26## with monochloro-lower alkyl-carboxylic acid in water or organic solvent in the presence of hydrogen chloride removing agent.

A process for preparing the resin having the formula (III):

• ##STR27## wherein, m signifies an integer of 2 to 6 or a mixture having an average value of 4 to 5,
• n signifies a mixture having an average value of 4 to 10,
• X' signifies ##STR28## Y signifies H or ##STR29## Z signifies H atom or dithiocarbamate group, provided that Z is not hydrogen atom in all of its occurrences, which comprises reacting a resin having the formula (I):
• ##STR30## wherein, m stands for an integer of 2 to 6 or for a mixture having an average value of 4 to 5,
• n stands for a mixture having an average value of 4 to 10,
• with carbondisulfide in an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide.

A process for preparing a resin having the formula (III):

• ##STR31## wherein, m signifies an integer of 2 to 6 or a mixture having an average value of 4 to 5,
• n signifies a mixture having an average value of 4 to 10,
• X' signifies ##STR32## Y signifies H or ##STR33## Z signifies H atom, lower alkyl group, provided that Z is not hydrogen atom in all of its occurrences, which comprises reacting a resin having the formula (I):
• ##STR34## wherein, m stands for an integer of 2 to 6 or for a mixture having an average value of 4 to 5,
• n stands for a mixture having an average value of 4 to 10,
• X stands for --OH or --NH--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.m NH.sub.2, and
• Y signifies H or ##STR35## with di-lower alkyl-sulfate in water in the presence of acid-removing agent.