The adsorption of Cu(II) ions onto chitosan and cross-linked chitosan beads has been investigated. Chitosan beads were cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GLA), epichlorohydrin (ECH) and ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE) in order to obtain sorbents that are insoluble in aqueous acidic and basic solution. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out as a function of pH, agitation period, agitation rate and concentration of Cu(II) ions. A pH of 6.0 was found to be a optimum for Cu(II) adsorption on chitosan and cross-linked chitosan beads. Isotherm studies indicate Cu(II) can be effectively removed by chitosan and cross-linked chitosan beads. Adsorption isothermal data could be well interpreted by the Langmuir equation. Langmuir constants have been determined for chitosan and cross-linked chitosan beads. The experimental data of the adsorption equilibrium from Cu(II) solution correlated well with the Langmuir isotherm equation. The uptakes of Cu(II) ions on chitosan beads were 80.71 mg Cu(II)/g chitosan, on chitosan-GLA beads were 59.67 mg Cu(II)/g chitosan-GLA, on chitosan-ECH beads were 62.47 mg Cu(II)/g chitosan-ECH and on chitosan-EGDE beads were 45.94 mg Cu(II)/g chitosan-EGDE. The Cu(II) ions can be removed from the chitosan and cross-linked chitosan beads rapidly by treatment with an aqueous EDTA solution and at the same time the chitosan and cross-linked chitosan beads can be regenerated and also can be used again to adsorb heavy metal ions. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.