Abstract: A method for the removal of pollutant ions from an aqueous solution in which they are contained, which method includes the steps of:i) contacting the solution to be treated with particles of a composite magnetic resin which includes magnetic particles embedded in an organic polymeric matrix which either contains, or has attached thereto sites which are selective for the pollutant ions in the presence of other ions it is not desired to remove;ii) separating by magnetic filtration the composite magnetic resin particles from the solution;iii) subjecting the separated composite magnetic resin particles to regeneration using an appropriate regenerant solution;iv) separating the regenerated composite magnetic resin particles from the regenerant solution; andv) recycling the separated composite magnetic resin particles to step (i) of the method.