In this study, a fibrous adsorbent containing amidoxime groups was prepared by graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) onto poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers using benzoyl peroxide (Bz(2)O(2)) as initiator in aqueous solution, and subsequent chemical modification of cyano groups by reaction with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in methanol. The grafted and modified fibers were characterized by FTIR, TGA, SEM, and XRD analysis. The crystallinity increased, but thermal stability decreased with grafting and amidoximation. The removal of Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution onto chelating fibers were studied using batch adsorption method. These properties were investigated under competitive conditions. The effects of the pH, contact time, and initial ion concentration on the removal percentage of ions were studied. The results show that the adsorption rate of metal ions followed the given order Co(II) > Pb(II) > Cd(II) > Ni(II) > Cu(II). The percentage removal of ions increased with initial ion concentration, shaking time, and pH of the medium. Total metal ion removal capacity was 49.75 mg/g fiber on amidoximated fiber. It was observed that amidoximated fibers can be regenerated by acid without losing their activity, and it is more selective for Pb(II) ions in the mixed solution of Pb-Cu-Ni-Co-Cd at pH 4. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 112: 1798-1807, 2009