Dialdehyde 8-aminoquinoline starch (DASQA) was synthesized by the reaction of dialdehyde starch (DAS) and 8-aminoquinoline and was used to adsorb various ions from aqueous solution. DASQA was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis. The adsorption properties of the polymer for Pb(2+), Cu(2+), Cd(2+), Ni(2+), and Zn(2+) were investigated. The result of the experiment reveals that the adsorption for Cd(2+) and Zn(2+)were approximately 2.51 mmol/g, 2.17 mmol/g, followed by Pb(2+) 1.93 mmol/g, Ni(2+) 1.66 mmol/g, Cu(2+) 1.19 mmol/g. Furthermore, the kinetic experiments indicated that the adsorption of DASQA for the above metal ions achieved equilibrium within 2 h. Therefore, DASQA is an effective adsorbent for the removal of different heavy metal ions from industrial waste solutions.