A novel chelating resin polystyrene-supported glucosamine was prepared by the reaction of chloromethylated polystyrene with glucosamine hydrochlorate, using anhydrous potassium carbonate as catalyst and dimethylformamide as solvent. Infrared spectra and elementary analysis were used to confirm its structure. The adsorption of the resin for Cu2+, Ni2+, Hg2+, Co2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ was investigated, as well as various factors affecting the adsorption such as time, temperature, ion concentration, and pH. The results showed that the resin had good adsorption capacities for Cu2+, Ni2+, and Hg2+. The adsorption was controlled by liquid film diffusion and adsorption isothermal data could be well interpreted by the Freundlich equation. Values of adsorption activation energy and adsorption Gibbs free energy were calculated. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.