The sorption behavior, favorability, shape and thermodynamic parameters of Cu(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), and Fe(III) ions sorption onto the ion exchage acrylic fiber were studied by applying Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich and Redlich Peterson models. Analytical studies from sorption isotherms proved that sorption process follows mono layer adsorption mechanism. Gibbs free energy was spontaneous for all interactions. The adsorption processes all exhibited endothermic enthalpy values and were accompanied by increasing in entropy. The activation energies for the sorption of metal ions on aminated acrylic fiber were at the same order of magnitude as the activation energy of ion exchange. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 118: 135-142, 2010