Novel gels from phenylboronate derivatives of chitosan were prepared for the adsorption of saccharides. Two chitosan gels were used: one modified by phenylboronate via Schiff's base formation (A) and one in which phenylboronate was introduced by amide formation (B). The adsorption characteristics Of D-glucose and 1-methyl-alpha-D-glucoside on these gels were examined and compared with a commercial gel. Though both chitosan gels were inferior to the commercial gel in their adsorption capacity, the chitosan gel (A) showed a much higher selectivity of D-glucose to 1-methyl-alpha-D-glucoside in comparison to the commercial gel. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.