2-Aminoacetylthiophenol　(AATP)-modified　Amberlite　XAD-2　has　been　synthesized　by　coupling　it　through　-N=N-NH-　group.　The　resulting　chelating　resin,　characterized　by　elemental　analysis,　thermogravimetric　analysis　(TGA)　and　infrared　(IR)　spectra,　was　used　to　preconcentrate　Cd,　Hg,　Ag.　Ni.　Co,　Cu　and　Zn　ions.　Several　parameters,　such　as　distribution　coefficient　and　sorption　capacity　of　the　chelating　resin,　pH　and　flow　rates　of　uptake　and　striping,　volume　of　sample　and　eluent,　were　evaluated.　The　effects　of　electrolytes　and　cations　on　the　preconcentration　were　also　investigated.　The　recoveries　were　＞96%.　The　procedure　was　validated　by　standard　addition　and　analysis　of　a　standard　reference　sediment　material　(GBW　07309　China).　The　developed　method　was　utilized　for　preconcentration　and　determination　of　Cd,　Hg,　Ag,　Ni,　Co,　Cu　and　Zn　in　tap　water,　river　water　and　sediment　samples　by　inductively　coupled　plasma-atomic　emission　spectrometry　(ICP-AES)　with　satisfactory　results.　The　3sigma　detection　limits　for　Cd,　Hg,　Ag,　Ni,　Co,　Cu　and　Zn　were　found　to　be　0.10,　0.23,　0.41,　0.13,　0.25,　0.39　and　0.58　mugl(-1).　respectively.　The　relative　standard　deviation　of　the　determination　was　＜　10%.　(C)　2003　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.