The surface ion-imprinting concept and chitosan incorporated sol-gel process were applied to the synthesis of a new attapulgitesupported polymer for selective separation of Ce(Ⅲ) from aqueous solution.The imprinting mechanism of prepared ion-imprinted polymer were discussed with the Characteristics of FT-IR and SEM.Results from the experiments of adsorption capacity and selectivity suggested that ion-imprinted polymer offered a fast kinetics for the adsorption of Ce(Ⅲ) under the optimum conditions. Its maximum adsorption capacity was 38.02 mg/g,and the selective recognition towards Ce(Ⅲ) was much higher than that of the non-imprinted polymer and attapulgite.The prepared functional polymer was shown to be promising for selective separation and enrichment of trace Ce(Ⅲ) in environmental samples. The surface ion-imprinting concept and chitosan incorporated sol-gel process were applied to the synthesis of a new attapulgitesupported polymer for selective separation of Ce (III) from aqueous solution. Imprinting mechanism of prepared ion-imprinted polymer were discussed with the Characteristics of FT-IR and SEM. Results from the experiments of adsorption capacity and selectivity suggested that ion-imprinted polymer offered a fast kinetics for the adsorption of Ce (Ⅲ) under the optimum conditions. Its maximum adsorption capacity was 38.02 mg / g, and the selective recognition towards Ce (III) was much higher than that of the non-imprinted polymer and attapulgite. prepared functional polymer was shown for promising selective separation and enrichment of trace Ce (III) in environmental samples.