The crosslinked chitosans synthesized by the homogeneous reaction of chitosan in aqueous acetic acid solution with epichlorohydrin were used to investigate the adsorptions of three metals of Cu(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II) ions in an aqueous solution. The crosslinked chitosan characterized by (CNMR)-C-13, SEM, and elemental analysis, and the effects of pH and anion on the adsorption capacity were carried out. The dynamical study demonstrated that the adsorption process was followed the second-order kinetic equation. The results obtained from the equilibrium isotherms adsorption studies of three metals of Cu(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II) ions by being analyzed in three adsorption models, namely, Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinnin-Radushkevich isotherm equations, indicated to be well fitted to the Langmuir isotherm equation under the concentration range studied, by comparing the linear correlation coefficients. The order of the adsorption capacity (Q(m)) for three metal ions was as follows: Cu2+ > Pb2+ > Zn2+. This technique for syntheses of the crosslinked chitosans with epichlorohydrin via the homogeneous reaction in aqueous acetic acid solution showed that the adsorptions of three metal ions in aqueous solution were followed the monolayer coverage of the adsorbents through physical adsorption phenomena. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.