Question: is deae a cation exchanger?
Answer: At neutral pH the carboxymethyl group is ionized as -CH2OCH2COO¯ so that CM- cellulose is negatively charged, so it is a weak cation exchanger. DEAE-cellulose contains an diethylaminoethyl group. It is positively charged at neutral pH and so DEAE-cellulose is a weak anion exchanger.