A novel hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) (PVA-co-PE) nanofiber membrane for heavy metal ions removal was fabricated by the solid phase synthesis of iminodiacetic acid (IDA) on nanofiber membrane surfaces. The hydrophilic PVA-co-PE nanofiber membranes were activated with cyanuric chloride. The IDA was then covalently linked to the activated PVA-co-PE nanofiber membranes. The chemical structures of activated and functionalized PVA-co-PE nanofiber membranes were confirmed with FTIR-ATR. The morphology of PVA-co-PE nanofiber membranes were characterized with SEM. The increase in the amount of IDA on functionalized PVA-co-PE nanofiber membranes significantly improved the adsorption amount of Cu2+. The IDA functionalized PVA-co-PE nanofiber membranes demonstrated excellent adsorption capability of Cu2+, Co2+, Zn2+ and Ni2+, The adsorption of above heavy metal ions could be repeatedly regenerated by desorbing the ions adsorbed on nanofiber membranes. The novel IDA functionalized PVA-co-PE nanofiber membranes have great potential in the application of industry and drinking water treatment. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.