DEAE-Sephadex equilibrated in 0.5 M triethylammonium acetate is suitable for the quantitative isolation of lactonisable organic acids. Mono-, di- and tricarboxylic acids can be eluted sequentially from DEAE-Sephadex by the use of 0.5 M triethylamine, 0.5 M triethylamine--0.1 M acetic acid, and 1.5 M pyridinium acetate.