Abstract: Cellulose from cotton was modified through reaction of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) with diethanolamine and an epichlorohydrinethylendiamine system in molar ratios of 1:1.5:1.5; 1:2:2; 1:3:3 and 1:4:4, respectively. The modification with epichlorohydrin-ethylendiamine was carried out in two steps: in the first step, NaCMC was reacted with epichlorohydrin, and in the second step, oxiran-2-ylmethyl carboxy-methylcellulose reacted with ethylendiamine gave cellulose-g-epichlorohydrin/ ethylendiamine. The surfaces of the obtained products have been investigated by SEM images. Their adsorption capability for Pb2+, Cd2+ and Mn2+ ions (at concentrations of 10,000, 2,000, 1,000, 600, 400 and 100 ppm) have been investigated.