This study examines the effects of adding chitosan to the curing treatment of cotton fabrics, using dimethylolethyleneurea as a crosslinking reagent; in particular, how the adsorption of the processed cotton fabrics for metallic ions is influenced. Different concentrations of added chitosan, different curing temperatures and time, as well as different adsorption times and temperatures were examined. The cotton fabrics studied were compared with other adsorptive materials, and also, were examined by Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis (FTIR), Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM), and Thermal Gravity Analysis (TGA) to study the crosslinkage reaction. The experimental results were as follows: the adsorption of copper and zinc ions increases as chitosan concentration increases, with the best adsorption when chitosan concentration is 0.5%; the adsorption of copper and zinc ions increases as the curing temperature rises, with the best adsorption at 140 degrees C; the adsorption increases with longer curing time, with the best adsorption at 6 min after the processing begins. For adsorption of zinc ions, the cotton fabrics containing chitosan have better adsorption than pure chitosan, but worse adsorption than activated carbon. For the adsorption of copper ions, chitosan is the best, processed cotton fabrics are the second, and activated carbon is the poorest. The adsorption of these two kinds of ions increases with the longer time and higher temperature. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.