A linear and non-crosslinked polymer, EDTA-linked chitosan (ED-ch), was synthesized by N-acylation of chitosan with EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) monoanhydride under from acidic to slightly basic aqueous conditions. The degree of substitution (D.S.) of EDTA residues in the product was changeable by the stoichiometry of the acylation reagent, and the structure was confirmed by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy. The newly introduced functional group in ED-ch provided properties as a strong chelating reagent and an amphoteric polyelectrolyte. It was found that ED-ch had good water solubility in both acidic and basic region and precipitated in the narrow pH region. Applicability of ED-ch to removal of heavy metal ions by flocculation was proven by a model experiment using 10 ppm Cu(II) solution.Simple procedure, mixing ED-ch with D.S. 41% and 70%, and subsequent pH adjustment (4.5 and 2.5) and centrifugal separation of the flocs formed, was shown to remove almost complete Cu(II) from aqueous solution, respectively. The residual Cu(II) concentration after these flocculation/separation process with ED-ch reached 0.03 ppm.