A method of eluting metal ions from a bed of metal-loaded chelating resin wherein the resin includes a crosslinked styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer matrix with pendent methyleneaminopyridine or phosphonic acid groups and the method includes the step of passing an eluant through the bed to at least partially remove the metal ions from the chelating resin and create a metal-rich eluate, wherein the eluant includes an aqueous solution comprising an amino acid compound having a molecular weight less than 500 Daltons.