Sorption mechanism of copper for spherical hydrogel structures formed by the phase inversion method are determined. Based on equilibrium and the research of structural attempt was made to explain the mechanism of sorption. Equilibria was describe by Langmuir, Langmuir-Freundlich equation. The chemical character of sorption was confirmed by IR and WAXS and XPS spectra. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.