Recovering noble metal from aqueous process streams in the synthesis of glyphosate by means of adsorption such as ion exchange resins.

A process of recovering noble metals from aqueous process stream comprising a solubilized noble metal and generated in a process for making an N- (phosphonomethyl) glycine product by the heterogeneous catalyzed oxidation of a noble metal substrate N- (phosphonomethyl) iminodiacetic, the recovery process comprising: contacting a portion of the aqueous process stream generated in the process for making an N- (phosphonomethyl) glycine by the oxidation catalyzed heterogeneous noble metal contact of at least substrate N- (phosphonomethyl) iminodiacetic acid with an adsorption of noble metal comprising a material selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, ion exchange resin and mixtures thereof to remove at least part of the noble metal solubilized thereof and produce a treated aqueous process stream having a reduced concentration of noble metal and an adsorption of noble metal comprising the noble metal.