AbstractPoly(4‐acryloylmorpholine), poly(4‐acryloylmorpholine‐co‐2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propane sulfonic acid), and poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propane sulfonic acid) were synthesized by radical polymerization. The water‐soluble polymers obtained, containing tertiary amino, amide, and sulfonic acid groups, were investigated, in view of their metal binding properties, as polychelatogens by using the liquid‐phase polymer‐based retention technique, under different experimental conditions. The metal ions investigated were Ag(I), Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Zn(II), Cr(III), and Al(III). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 180–185, 2006