Weak ion exchange particulate medium prepared from phenol-containing organic matter for anions contained in aqueous solutions.

A process for the preparation of a granulated or pelletized weak anion exchange medium from a phenol-containing organic material like peat, followed by low-temperature torrefaction of the granules to produce a high degree of physical stability of the granules at high-pH conditions, followed by chemical pretreatment of the stable granule via a hydrolysis reaction, and optionally surface treatment with acids, followed by the main chemical treatment of the hydrolyzed granule via separate aldehyde and amine reagents, or alternatively via an adduct reagent like hexamethylenetetramine is provided by this invention. The weak anion exchange medium of this invention can be used in a variety of aqueous solution treatment processes, such as wastewater treatment for removing mineral acids like H.sub.2SO.sub.4, HNO.sub.3, HCl, HBr, HF, H.sub.3PO.sub.4, HI, or formic acid from the wastewater. The resulting anion exchanger medium is particularly useful for treating wastewaters in a low-pH environment.