AbstractThe swelling behaviour, the time‐dependence of the uptake of Cu2+‐ions, and the pH‐dependence of the uptake of Cu2+‐, Ni2+‐, Cd2+‐, Zn2+‐ and Mg2+‐ions of crosslinked poly[1‐(4,5‐dicarboxy‐1‐imidiazolyl)ethylene] (1) and poly{1‐[p‐(4,5‐dicarboxy‐2‐imidazolyl)phenyl]ethylene} (2) were investigated. Both resins have a high selectivity for heavy metal ions. For resins1the uptake of heavy metal ions in the presence of an excess of EDTA was studied. Furthermore the possibility to remove Hg2+‐ions from aqueous alkalichloride