Cobalt (II) imprinted chitosan for selective removal of cobalt during nuclear reactor decontamination

► Chitosan was imprinted with cobalt(II) ion. ► Cobalt imprinting reverses the selectivity of the chitosan in favor of Co(II). ► Selective towards Co(II) in presence of excess Fe(II). ► Strong complexants do not affect the selectivity of the imprinted chitosan. ► Sorbs low level cobalt from typical nuclear reactor decontamination formulation.