The crosslinked poly(acrylamido glycolic acid) (180-250 mu m) was used in the adsorption/desorption studies. Adsorption rate, capacity of the resin for the selected metal ions, i.e. Cd(III), Zn(II), Hg(II), Pb(II), and Cr(III) were investigated in aqueous media. At different pH values (1.0-5.0) very high adsorption was observed for Pb(II) at pH 3 and 5. The adsorption equilibrium was rapidly achieved in about 5-10 min. However, when the Pb(II) ions competed with Cd(II) (in the case of the adsorption from their binary mixture) the amount of adsorption for Pb(II) decreased. Desorption of Pb(II) was studied by using 1-4 M HNO3 and 1-4M HClO4. High desorption ratios (more than 90%) were achieved in all cases. Adsorption/desorption cycles showed the possibility of repeated use of this resin.