Ionic exchange resin was prepared via grafting of beta-cyclodextrin itaconate (CDI) onto chitosan. CDI was prepared by esterification of beta-cyclodextrin with itaconic acid using a semidry process. The esterification reaction of beta-CD was carried out using [IA]; 2 mol/mol of CD, M/L ratio; 1:0.6, temperature 100degreesC, [catalyst]; 0.5 mol/2 mol IA and in the absence of catalyst. The double bonds of CDI were utilized in grafting copolymeriziation onto chitosan using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as a redox initiation system. The optimum conditions of the polymerization reaction were held as follows: [chitosan], 1 g; C-(IV), 0.02 mol/l; temperature, 50degreesC; and H2O, 90 ml. At the end of the grafting reaction, the resultant product was subjected to crosslinking using different concentrations of glutraldehyde. Crosslinked chitosan/poly (CDI) graft copolymer (CCPCDI) was successively used for the removal of some hazardous pollutants currently found in textile waste water such as Maxilon Blue 4 GL (basic dye), Iragalon Rubine RL (acid dye) and Brilliant Red M5B R-2 (hydrolyzed reactive dyes). (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.