A systematic investigation of the metal sorption and leaching characteristics of two chelating gels viz., iminodiacetic acid (IDA) and Tris(2-aminoethyl)amine bound to Sepharose 6B, under varying chemical conditions relevant for immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) of proteins (e.g., buffer salts, pH (4-9), ionic strength (0-3 M NaCl), feed metal concentration (0 50 mM)) has been undertaken. The studies were carried out for the two most frequently used metal ions namely, Cu(II) and Ni(II). Results indicated that the metal sorption capacities of these chelating gels show strong dependence on the changes in pH around them. However, the effect of ionic strength and feed metal concentration on metal sorption capacities is moderate. On the basis of these investigations, conditions for optimum sorption capacities were identified. Further, metal leaching studies were conducted for various solution conditions (pH, ionic strength) on these gels to assess their suitability for use in protein separations. These studies may provide an outset for preparing stable metal chelated gels for protein separations.