The one-step reaction of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid bisanhydride with polyvinyl alcohols of different molecular weights produces chelating resins containing aminocarboxylic acids as functional groups. Metal sorption in different hydrochloric acid concentrations media and desorption studies were carried out and the results compared according to the density of complexing groups. The resins show a great sorption affinity towards Au(III). The desorption of Au(III) from the resins carried out by applying perchloric acid or thiourea as eluting agents led to the assumption that gold is strongly complexed indicating a particular mechanism of metal sorption.