Efficient removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution using salicylic acid type chelate adsorbent

► A novel adsorbent ASA-PGMA/SiO2 was successfully obtained. ► ASA-PGMA/SiO2 has very strong chelating adsorption ability for hard metal ions. ► The adsorption ability of ASA-PGMA/SiO2 for metal ions is largely dependent on the solution pH value. ► ASA-PGMA/SiO2 could be reused almost without any loss in the adsorption capacity.