The crosslinked poly(1-vinylimidazole-co-acrylic acid), P(VIm-co-AA), and poly(1-vinylimidazole-co-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid) P(VIm-co-APSA) were synthesized by radical polymerization and tested as adsorbents under competitive and noncompetitive conditions for Cu(11), Cd(II), Hg(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), and Cr(III) by batch equilibrium procedure. The resin-metal ion equilibrium was achieved before 1 h. The resin P(VIm-co-AA) showed a maximum retention capacity (MRC) value for Pb(II) at pH 3 and Hg(11) at pH 1 of 1.1 and 1.2 mEq/g, respectively, and the resin P(VIm-co-AA) showed at pH 3 the following MRC values: Hg(II) (1.5 mEq/g), Cd(II) (1.9 mEq/g), Zn(11) (2.7 mEq/g), and Cr(III) (2.8 mEq/g). The recovery of the resin was investigated at 25degreesC with I M and 4 M HNO3 and I M and 4 M HClO4. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.