The binding of heavy metal ions onto cross-linked chitosan in dilute aqueous solution has been investigated as a function of pH (4.0 and 7.0), agitation period (10-180min) and concentration of various metal cations (5, 10, 50 and 100ppm). In order to obtain adsorbents that are insoluble and stable, and prevent the dissolution loss of chitosan into an acidic aqueous solution, chitosan flakes were cross-linked with epichlorohydrine (ECH) and its adsorption behavior was compared with that of the non cross-linked chitosan. An advantage of ECH is that it does not eliminate the cationic amine functional group of chitosan. In terms of adsorption ratio, the chitosan cross-linked at an ECH was inferior to original chitosan and was found that chitosan has a selectivity much remarkable than the cross-linked chitosan in low concentrated metal solutions. However, no significant decreases in the adsorption ratios were observed between the cross-linked ECH-chitosan and the non cross-linked chitosan concerning the adsorption of $Ni^{2+}$, $Co^{2+}$, $Pb^{2+}$ and $Zn^{2+}$ acidic solution.