Equilibrium constants for the binding of poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) with metal ions and metal chelates of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and nitrilotriacetic acid in the aqueous sulfate solutions were determined by batch ultrafiltration (UF) in the pH range of 3.0-3.8. The average coordination number of PEI groups interacting with one metal ion and metal chelate was also obtained by varying the initial concentration ratio of PEI to metal ion. A simple chemical equilibrium model proposed in this work enabled us to satisfactorily predict the rejection coefficient of UF of metal ions and metal chelates in the presence of PEI. Also, the effect of the formation of soluble hydroxy complexes of metal chelates on their retention was emphasized.