A　novel　Cu(II)　ion-imprinted　complex　adsorbent　[Cu(II)-IIP]　from　alginate　and　chitosan　was　prepared　by　a　three-step　process　of　beading–combining–crosslinking　with　Cu2+　as　the　template　ion.　The　Cu(II)-IIP　showed　higher　capacity　and　selectivity　for　Cu(II)　than　the　non-imprinted　polymer.　The　theoretical　maximum　adsorption　capacity　of　Cu(II)-IIP　reached　83.33 mg/g,　and　the　separation　factor　(α)　for　Cu(II)　versus　Zn(II)　was　2.28.　The　adsorption　of　Cu2+　onto　the　Cu(II)-IIP　was　perfectly　described　by　the　Langmuir　isotherm　model.　The　adsorption　kinetics　agreed　with　the　pseudo-first-order　model　in　the　first　8 h　and　more　fitted　pseudo-second-order　model　after　then.　Weber–Morris　model　confirmed　that　the　adsorption　rate　would　be　controlled　dominantly　by　the　intraparticle　diffusion　and　the　inner　surface　binding.　Moreover,　the　Cu(II)-IIP　complex　adsorbent　exhibited　good　regeneration,　and　the　adsorption　capacity　was　stable　within　the　first　three　adsorption–desorption　cycles　without　significant　reduction.　©　2018,　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Germany,　part　of　Springer　Nature.