Cadmium sorption from aqueous solutions on sulfonic (C-150) and iminodiacetic (S-930) Purolite macroporous resins was investigated. The influence of operating variables such as initial pH, Cd(H) concentration, time and temperature on the equilibrium parameters was measured. The ion preference and sorption ability of resins, i.e. binding constant (b) and saturation capacity {xm), derived from sorption isotherm, depend on the functional group structure. The Cd(II) uptake is only particle diffusion controlled. The kinetic parameters, i.e. t1/2values for 50 % attainment of equilibrium sorption, rate constant (K¯ ) and diffusion coefficient (D¯) are higher on the sulfonic resin. The “moving boundary” particle diffusion model fits the entire ion sorption process on chelating resin, but only the initial sorption on the sulfonic resin, confirming the difference in chemistry between chelation and ion exchange.