Inhomogeneous calcium alginate ion cross-linking gel microspheres, a novel ion absorbent, were prepared by dropping a sodium alginate solution to a calcium chloride solution via an electronic droplet generator. Calcium alginate microspheres have uniform particle sizes, a smooth surface and a microporous structure. The electrode probe reveals the inhomogeneous distribution of calcium ions with the highest concentration on the surface, and the lowest concentration in the cores of the spheres. As a novel ion adsorbent, calcium alginate gel microspheres have a lower limiting adsorption mass concentration, a higher enrichment capacity and a higher adsorption capacity for Pb2+ than usual ion exchange resins. The highest percentage of the adsorption is 99.79%. The limiting adsorption mass concentration is 0.0426 mg/L. The adsorption capacity for Pb2+ is 644 mg/g. Calcium alginate gel microspheres have a much faster ion exchange velocity than D418 chelating resin and D113 polyacrylate resin. The moving boundary model was employed to interpret the ion exchange kinetics process, which indicates that the ion exchange process is controlled by intraparticle diffusion of adsorbable ions. So the formation of inhomogeneous gel microspheres reduces the diffusion distance of adsorbable ions within the spheres and enhances the ion exchange velocity. Alginate has a higher selectivity for Pb2+ than for Ca2+ and the selectivity coefficient KPbCa is 316. As an ion cross-linking gel, calcium alginate inhomogeneous microspheres can effectively adsorb heavy metal Pb2+ at a higher selectivity and a higher adsorption velocity. It is a novel and good ion adsorbent.