Ag+-exchanged resins are prepared and studied for ethylene/ethane separation by adsorption, On Ag+-exchanged S9, at 25degreesC and 0.1013 MPa, the equilibrium adsorbed amount for C2H4 is 0.992 mmol.g(-1), and the adsorption ratio for C2H4/C2H6 is 3.56. The adsorption capacity can be restored almost completely at 25degreesC and 75degreesC, and the desorption residual amount is less than 0.01 mmol.g(-1). For the adsorption consisting of physical adsorption and pi-complexation with energy heterogeneity, the equilibrium data are correlated with Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm equation. Furthermore, the heat of adsorption and the overall diffusion time constants are calculated from the experimental data. Considering all the adsorption characteristics, the application potential for industrial adsorption process is discussed.