Arundo donax L. reed based anion exchange resin (ALR-AE resin) was prepared by the amination reaction for the adsorption of nitrate from aqueous solution. The physicochemical properties of the ALR-AE resin as well as its adsorption properties for nitrate were measured. Results indicated that large amounts of amine groups have been grafted onto the structure of the resin. The FTIR and Raman spectra validated the ion exchange mechanism for nitrate adsorption by ALR-AE resin. The adsorption data showed an exothermic nature for the adsorption of nitrate by ALR-AE resin, and the equilibrium time for the adsorption process was about 10 min. The maximum adsorption capacity (Q(max)) for nitrate was 44.61 mg/g. The saturated adsorption capacity of ALR-AE resin in column was about 38.9 mg/g, which accounted for about 87.2% of the resin's Q(max). The preferential adsorption capacity of the ALR-AE resin followed the order as: SO42- > NO3- approximate to PO43- > NO2-. In addition, the utilization of the resin in actual water samples indicated that the ALR-AE resin could be used for the treatment of many ionic polluted wastewaters. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.