The D201 macroreticular polystyrene strong base ion exchange resin was applied to SO42 - adsorption removal from wastewater, which adsorption kinetics and thermodynamic were analyzed. The resins before and after adsorption were characterized by XRD, FTIR and SEM, the adsorption mechanism was also discussed. The results show that the adsorption process conforms to the pseudo-second order kinetic model, qe'= 63.291 mg/g (qe= 62.585 mg/g), liquid film diffusion is the controlling step, and the diffusion constant is 0.1623, rapid agitation or bigger bore diameter of resin can obtain faster response speed; Langmuir isotherm fits better to the adsorption behavior, which is monolayer adsorption and favorable adsorption for D201 resin, the adsorption process is endothermic process; the characterization shows that D201 resin is amorphous substance with much activity and many micro- and macro-pores on the surface, and became more clear and smooth after adsorption. The characteristic peak of SO3H— also appeared, as a result of the reaction of SO42-and [—N(CH3)3OH] on D201 resin.