A novel aminated resin for the efficient removal of Cu(II), Pb(II), Cr(VI) and As(V) ions from aqueous solution was prepared via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) and subsequent amination reaction. Polyglycidyl methacrylate (PGMA) was first grafted from the merrifield chloromethylated resin (MCR) via SI-ATRP of GMA, and then ethylenediamine was used for amination to produce the aminated resin. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the grafted PGMA brushes and amine groups on the functionalized MCR surfaces. XPS spectra and sorption behaviors confirmed that the amine groups were responsible for efficient Cu(II) and Pb(II) removal via chelation, while the electrostatic interaction between the protonated amine groups and anionic species dominated the sorption of Cr(VI) and As(V). The sorption equilibrium of As(V) was achieved within 1 h, much faster than others. According to the Langmuir fitting, the maximum sorption capacities of Cu(II), Pb(II), Cr(VI) and As(V) on the aminated resin at pH 5 were 2.6, 0.97, 3.0, and 2.2 mmol/g, respectively. SI-ATRP technology is an effective approach to prepare adsorbents with high sorption capacity for some pollutants. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.