An extraction chromatographic resin containing the acidic chelating organophosphorus extractant, Dipex w , sorbed onto an inert polymeric substrate has been evaluated for the separation of beryllium from a wide range of elements. The elements selected comprise those which can interfere with the determination of beryllium by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and matrix elements which commonly occur in environmental and industrial samples. Based on batch uptake measurements, a method that separates beryllium from all potential ICP-AES spectral interfering elements using a single extraction chromatographic column is outlined. The chromatographic parameters of the separation method have been optimized using simulated samples generated using the digestion process employed in beryllium analyses by the Y-12 National Security Complex and simulated ground water samples.