The macroporous adsorbents (PVF-Cs) were prepared by the introduction of chitosan into polyvinyl formal (PVF) foam. The foam was studied by the infrared (IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The foam shows main pore sizes in the range of 70～180 μm and it possesses a great water absorption capacity, reaching the water absorption equilibrium within a few seconds. Notably, The foam combines the pore structure of PVF and the amino groups of chitosan, which can be used as absorbent to deal with heavy metal ions in waste water. The foam reaches an absorption equilibrium within 20 min at pH = 5.0 and 30 ℃ and the adsorption kinetics would be more compatible with the mechanism of pseudo-second-order model. The equilibrium adsorption isotherm shows the absorption equilibrium of PVF-Cs on the Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺ fitted well with the Langmuir model. According to the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacities of the PVF-Cs foam for Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ are 340.28 mg/g and 96.57 mg/g, respectively. The foams also exhibit a apid desorption and wonderful reusability after at least five cycles.