Homogeneous, highly porous, low density, open cellular polyhipe polymer (PHP) has been produced by polymerisation of a high internal phase emulsion. Its surface properties were modified by sulphonation. By incorporating Na+ ions onto the sulphonated PHP surfaces a modular form of ion exchange resin capable of effective exchange with metal ions in solution was produced. Isotherms were measured for samples of PHP of differing degrees of sulphonation, and compared with data obtained from commercially available ion exchange resins. The capacity of PHP increased with the degree of sulphonation, In single-pass dynamic adsorption tests the PHP showed better column utilization than the commercial resins.