Amine-type adsorbents were prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization. The sorption behaviors for an individual metal ion of Cu2+ and Pb2+ separately, as well as with mixed Cu2+/Pb2+, were studied in both column and batch mode. Ethylenediamine-type adsorbent exhibited a high capacity for Cu2+ and Pb2+ at a high flow rate of 1000 h1, but low selectivity in the mixed Cu2+/Pb2+ solutions. Radiation-induced crosslinking of the amine-type adsorbent was performed in water to improve selectivity. Crosslinking of the material was demonstrated by gel fraction, water content, and scanning electron microscopy image. Compared with the results from the noncrosslinked adsorbents, the breakthrough curve of Cu2+ right shifted, whereas the breakthrough curve of Pb2+ left shifted, indicating the higher adsorption capacity of Cu2+ and the lower adsorption capacity of Pb2+ from the crosslinked adsorbent. After 300 kGy irradiation, the crosslinked adsorbent was found to selectively adsorb Cu2+ from the mixed Cu2+/Pb2+ solution. The results revealed that crosslinking raised the selectivity of the adsorbents. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013