The paper is concerned with the recovery of germanium from dilute aqueous solutions. The method is based on the sorption of the seleetive complex formed by catechol with germanium onto low-cost anionic resins. Experimental investigations were undertaken using conventional quaternary ammonium macroporous resins: Amber lite IRA-900 and IRA-958. The influence of pH, metal concentration, and amounts of resin and catechol on the sorption capacity were investigated. For a proper set of experiments, a statistical technique such as a response surface methodology (RSM) has been used. For the investigation of the exchange equilibrium, the experimental data were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich equations, the Freundlich isotherm in general constituting a better fit. The uptake of the germanium complex by the ion-exchange resins was reversed by acid and neutral solutions. The results obtained showed better performance for IRA-900 than IRA-958, measured in terms of global recovery yields (retention and elution).