An effective method was developed to isolate toxic heavy metal ions from the aqueous solution by the magnetic nanopolymers. The magnetic sorbent was prepared with radiation-induced crosslinking polymerization of chitosan (CS), 2-acrylamido-glycolic acid (AMGA), and acrylic acid (AAc), which stabilized by magnetite (Fe3O4) as nanoparticles. The formation of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) into the hydrogel networks was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and Scanning electron microscopy, which revealed the formation of MNPs throughout the hydrogel networks. The swelling behavior of the hydrogels and magnetic ones was evaluated at different pH values. The adsorption activity for heavy metals such as Cu2+ and Co2+ by nonmagnetic and magnetic hydrogels, Fe3O4/CS/(AMGA-co-AAc), in terms of adsorption amount was studied. It was revealed that hydrogel networks with magnetic properties can effectively be used in the removal of heavy metal ions pollutants and provide advantageous over conventional ones. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1441-1449, 2015. (c) 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers