Two chelating resins, porous cross-linked polystyrene modified with 2-amino-pyridine via a sulfoxide/ sulfone-containing spacer (PVBSO-AP and PVBSO 2 -AP), were synthesized. Their structures were characterized by a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), porous structure analysis, and elementary analysis. The results of SEM and pore analysis demonstrated that the two kinds of chelating resins maintained meso-macro porous structures. Some factors affecting the adsorption of Hg(II) on PVBSO-AP and PVBSO 2 -AP resins such as contact time, solution concentration, and pH were investigated. The results showed that the optimum pH ranges appeared at (4.0 to 5.0) for PVBSO-AP and at (3.0 to 6.0) for PVBSO 2 -AP resin, and the times reaching equilibrium were (8 and 5) h for the two resins, respectively. The experimental equilibrium data of Hg(II) onto the two resins showed that linear Langmuir and nonlinear Redlich-Peterson isotherms were the best fitting isotherms to describe the experimental data. The selectivity of adsorption of Hg(II) on PVBSO-AP and PVBSO 2 -AP resins for Hg(II) were investigated in the binary ion systems. The results showed that the two resins can adsorb selectively Hg(II) in the presence of Ni(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II), and three adsorption-desorption cycles demonstrated that the two resins are suitable for reuse without considerable changes in the adsorption capacity. † Part of the "Sir John S. Rowlinson Festschrift".