Using SI-ATRP technique, 1-vinylimidazole (VI) monomer was directly modified onto the surface of CMPS resin to prepare a chelating resin (PVI-g-PS) with imidazole ring as functional group. The adsorption properties of Cd(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II) were studied. It was found that with the increase in ATRP time and the amount of VIM, the graft ratio of VIM increased linearly, which indicated that the density of imidazole ring on the surface of resin increased. Adsorption experiments showed that the resin has good adsorption properties for Cd(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II). At pH 5.0, the static saturated adsorption amount of PVIM-g-PS for Cd(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II) was 2.82, 1.77, 1.22 and 0.83mmolg(-1), respectively. The adsorption model could be described by Langmuir isothermal adsorption and the adsorption process accorded with quasi-first-order kinetic equation. In addition, the resin has good desorption rate and reusability. These findings suggest that the resin can be potentially applied to the efficient removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater.