Crosslinked poly(1-vinyl imidazole-co-acrylic acid) and crosslinked poly(1-vinylmidazole-co-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) were synthesized by radical polymerization and characterized by elemental analysis and FTIR spectroscopy. The polymerization yields were 79 and 99%, respectively. The metal ion binding properties for copper(II) and uranium(VI) were studied under noncompetitive and competitive conditions by Batch equilibrium procedure. The resin crosslinked poly(I-vinyl imidazole-co-acrylic acid) showed a higher dependence on pH than crosslinked poly(1-vinylmidazole-co-2-acrylamido2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid). The retention of uranyl ions for the latter resin was close to 100% at pH 5.0. The higher maximum retention capacity was close to 0.8 mmol/g dry resin at pH 5.0. Regeneration of the resin was possible by treatment with basic eluent. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.