Polyamide microcapsules containing alginic acid as a water-soluble macromolecular ligand (Alg-MC) were prepared by the interfacial polycondensation of sebacoyldichloride with hexamethylenediamine in a w/o emulsion system. The mean diameter of the microcapsules was 1.2 mu m. The extractabilities of Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Ag(I) into the Alg-MC were examined and the highest uptake was found for Cu(II). It was ascertained that not only the inner ligand solution but also the membrane can accumulate the metal ions. The surface composition of the microcapsules was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and it was found that some functional groups of alginic acid were present at the surface penetrating the membrane.