In this paper, a new hyper-crosslinked polystyrene adsorbent WJN-101 for removal of Cu2+ from the water was prepared and its adsorption capacity was tested by using the commercial resins IRC-84 and D-110 as references. The higher uptake capacity of Cu2+ by WJN-101 was achieved at higher pH values, and the lower uptake capacity was observed in an acidic medium. When the temperature was raised within the range of 278-308 K, the adsorption enthalpy changes of WJN-101 were about from 22.24 to 28.89 kJ mol(-1), and the free energy changes were about from -5.71 to -5.90 kJ mol(-1). The batch kinetic study indicated that the adsorption of Cu2+ could be well fitted by the pseudo-second-order equation, suggesting intra-particle diffusion process as the rate-limiting step of the adsorption process. By using the Elovich equation, the initial adsorption rates of Cu2+ onto three investigated resins were calculated, which was 11.50. 2.46, and 9.88 mg (g min)(-1) of WJN-101, IRC-84 and D-110, respectively. The column adsorption data of Cu2+ on WJN-101 could be well fitted by the Thomas model, and it could be employed for the designing of adsorption columns over a range of feasible flow rates and resin bed height successfully. 2% HCl solution could be used as effective eluant to desorb the Cu2+ adsorbed by WJN-101. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.