Method for removing dissolved heavy metals, transition metals and/or metalloids from aqueous solution comprises contacting the solution with a water-insoluble hydrophilic polymer complex structure unit present in particle form

Method for removing dissolved heavy metals, transition metals and/or metalloids (I) from aqueous solution (II) comprises contacting (by passing) (II) with a water-insoluble hydrophilic polymer complex structure unit (III) (present in particle form) (where recurring metal complex structure unit has at least one formula of (A), (A1) or (A2)) and cross-linking bridges. Method for extracting dissolved heavy metals, transition metals and/or metalloids (I) from aqueous solution (II) comprises contacting (by passing) (II) with a water insoluble hydrophilic polymer complex structure unit (III) (present in particle form) (where recurring metal complex structure unit has at least one formula of (A), (A1) or (A2)) and cross-linking bridges. R : H or optionally substituted alkyl residue; T1>optionally over a electrophilic link with N connected with at least one thiol- or thione group (preferably thiocarbamoyl group) or with at least a thiol group substituted alkyl- or aryl carbonyl group to form metal chelate; and T2>thiocarbamate (preferably over a N-atom bounded heterocyclic residue with at least a thiol- or thione group or with at least a thiol group substituted alkyl- or aryl carbonamide group to form metal chelate. An independent claim is also included for a hydrophilic polymeric complex former (in fine particulate form and filterable) obtained by cross linking a water-insoluble hydrophilic copolymer (IV) of formula [-(A3)m-(B1)-(C1)o-(D)p-(E)q-(F1)r-] (where (A3), (B1), (C1), (D), (E) and (F) are copolymerized monomers) and where at least one-third of the copolymerized monomer (A3) and (B1) reacts with (A), (A1) or (A2). A3 : allylamine, monosubstituted allylamine or diallylamine (in free form or in salt form); B1 : diacetone acrylamide; C1 : (meth)acrylamide or 2-hydroxy ethyl acrylate; D : (meth)acrylic acid, crotonic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, methacryloyloxy ethane sulfonic acid, 2-acryl amido-2-methpropane sulfonic acid (in free form or in salt form); E : ester of (meth)acryl-, maleic- or itaconic acid, N-tert.butyl acrylamide, styrene, N-vinylpyrrolidone or N-vinylcaprolactam; F1 : bifunctional, trifunctional or tetra functional monomer of acrylamide, methacrylamide or (meth)acryl ester; and m-r : relative portion of the monomer at the copolymer in mol percent (where m, n are 0-69.5 mol.% (with the proviso that m+n is greater than or equal to 15 mol.% and m is greater than or equal to 10 mol.% (when n is less than or equal to 10 mol.%)