Copper ion (Cu2+) removal from aqueous solutions was performed with two different chelating resins (bis-picolylamine, iminodiacetate). In order to compare the results obtained from the chelating resins, strong acid cation exchangers were used with sulfonic acid functionally. The effects of the following parameters such as the amount of resin, the duration, pH levels and concentration were noted for the ion-exchange. The Langmuir, Freundlich, D-R and Scatchard isotherm models were used to evaluate the data. The Langmuir isotherm model was found to be the best model. The chelating resins which retained some of their functional groups showed good properties for the removal of Cu2+ from aqueous solutions. The sorption capacity of the resins increased with the rising Cu2+ concentration in the aqueous medium. FT-IR analysis results show clearly that the ion-exchange and chelating took place as mechanisms which rule during the sorption of Cu2+ from aqueous phase. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.