AbstractPoly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) beads with an average size of 350 μm were synthesized by suspension polymerization technique. The PGMA beads were first modified with iminodiacetonitrile (IDAN). Then, the IDAN‐modified beads were subsequently modified by hydroxylamine. The IDAN modification and the conversion of the nitrile groups to amidoxime were followed by FT‐IR spectroscopy. The surface morphology and thermal behavior of the PGMA and its modified forms were also characterized by scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis techniques, further confirming modification and amidoximation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007