A novel chitosan-based composite (CTS/ZSM) made of chitosan and ZSM molecular sieve was prepared under microwave irradiation and was used for the removal of Cu (II) ions from aqueous solution. The composites were characterized by FTIR spectra, XRD spectra, and thermogravimetric analysis. The effects of the ZSM content, amount of glutaraldehyde and pH value on adsorption properties of Cu (II) ions by CTS/ZSM were discussed in detail. Contrast with crosslinked chitosan (CCTS), the CTS/ZSM had higher adsorption capacity for Cu (II). Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption of Cu (II) onto CTS/ZSM composite had low correlation coefficients for the pseudo-first and -second order model and intraparticle diffusion model. The equilibrium process was better described by the Langmuir than Freundlich isotherm model. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013