Bacterial cellulose is extracellular cellulose synthesized by some bacteria. The thickness of the microfibrous structure of bacterial cellulose is much less than that of plant cellulose. In the present paper, phosphorylated bacterial cellulose is prepared as an adsorbent for metal ions. Phosphorylation conditions were screened to increase the substitution degree and to retain the microfibrous structure. The degree of phosphorylation of bacterial cellulose is higher than that of plant cellulose under the same conditions. Scanning electron microscopy images of the phosphorylated bacterial cellulose indicated that the final product exists as an aggregated ribbon structure. Batchwise adsorption tests of lanthanide ions and transition metal ions on the phosphorylated bacterial cellulose were performed. The metal ions were adsorbed on the phosphorylated bacterial cellulose and selectivity was based on the characteristics of the phosphoric acid groups. These results suggest potential for phosphorylated BC as a new adsorbent for metal ions. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.