A pH-sensitive magnetic ion exchanger was synthesized by binding carboxymethylated chitosan (CMCH) covalently on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The diameter for magnetic particles observed at 25 degrees C was 15 nm. The ion exchanger was superparamagnetic with a saturation magnetization of 64.21 emu/g and an isoelectric point (pI) of 5.75. In a model system, the laccase adsorption capacity reached equilibrium within 15 min (pH 5). The adsorption process followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, and the maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity was calculated to be 198.81 mg/g. The laccase can be completely desorbed at pH 8. About 97% laccase can be effectively desorbed from the surface of particles within 15 min. Moreover, the specific activity of the laccase remained constant during the adsorption and desorption process. Finally, the pH-sensitive magnetic ion exchanger was used for separation of laccase directly from culture supernatant, and nearly pure laccase was isolated by a single step with an activity recovery rate of 63%.