Two glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) chelating resins were prepared and characterized by IR and thermal analysis (DTA/TGA). The preparation process was carried Out through copolymerization of GMA with N.N'-methylenebisacrylamide cross-linker in presence and absence of iron oxide (Fe,03). The resins obtained were subsequently treated with ethylenediamine to give the corresponding amine-chelating resins. The resins were characterized by IR and thermal analysis (DTA/TGA). The uptake behaviour of both resins towards Cu(II) ions in aqueous solutions using batch and column techniques was studied. The oxide containing resin (ROA) displayed higher uptake and fast equilibrium time relative to that of oxide free resin (RA). This was attributed to the higher amine group content in ROA due to the stretching of the resin's film over iron oxide particles. Thermodynamic parameters Delta H degrees, Delta S degrees and Delta G degrees of the uptake process were also calculated. Regeneration of the resins was carried out using 1 M HC1 where 98% desorption of the metal ions was obtained. The resins showed good durability for adsorption/desorption over 10 cycles. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.