A novel approach was developed for the preparation of the attapulgite/poly(acrylic acid) (ATP/PAA) nano-composite microgels via the "one-pot" inverse suspension radical polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) with the multi-functionalized attapulgite nanorods (org-ATP) as the sole crosslinker. The parameters of the feeding ratio of the functional attapulgite (org-ATP) nanorods and AA (org-ATP/AA), oil (liquid paraffin)-water ratio, and feeding ratios of dispersing agent (sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SOBS)) and initiator (ammonium persulfate (APS)) were optimized via 4-Variable 3-Level Orthogonal experiments. Under the optimized preparation condition, more than 85% of the monomer AA had been grafted onto the org-ATP nanorods to form the 3-dimensional network of the ATP/PAA nanocomposite microgel. The ATP/PAA nanocomposite microgel exhibited better mechanical stabilities (resistance to pressure and resistance to agitation) and selective adsorption to heavy metal ions, especially to Pb2+. The adsorbed Pb2+ ion could be completely eluted with HCl solution. The better mechanical stability and regeneration make it potential adsorbent for the heavy metal contaminated water. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.