A new structure of cyclohexanone–formaldehyde resin (CFR) was synthesized via in situ condensation reaction of 2,4,6‐tris(p‐formylphenoxy)‐1,3,5‐triazine (TFPA) with CFR. TFPA was prepared by the reaction of cyanuric chloride and p‐hydroxybenzaldehyde and its structure was confirmed using spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis. The structural, thermal and morphological properties of the nitrogen‐ and oxygen‐rich CFR were studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and field emission scanning electron microscopy. After characterization, the resin was used as an adsorbent for Cd(II) due to the high level of nitrogen and oxygen in its structure. The effects of various parameters such as pH, concentration and time on the adsorption process were studied. The maximum adsorption capacity of cadmium at pH 8 in 5 min was 83.61 mg L−1. The adsorption isotherm was applied to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich models. Comparing the correlation coefficient (R2), the Langmuir model was fitted well. Pseudo‐first‐order, pseudo‐second‐order, Elivich and intra‐particle diffusion models of adsorption kinetics were explored. The pseudo‐second‐order model can better explain the adsorption kinetics that shows adsorption being dependent on the number of active sites of the adsorbent. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry