The invention relates to a heavy metal ion adsorbent. The heavy metal ion adsorbent is characterized in that a silicon dioxide carrier is used as a raw material, and is modified by a grafting reagent and a functional reagent, so as to form the heavy metal ion adsorbent; the grafting reagent is silane of which the end group is provided with amino, and the functional reagent is alginate and alginic acid. A preparation method comprises the following steps of dispersing the silicon dioxide carrier into water, and adding the grafting reagent, so as to obtain a solid and liquid mixture I; separating solid and liquid, washing, and drying, so as to obtain the amino-modified silicon dioxide; dissolving the functional reagent into water, sequentially adding 1-ethyl-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride, and the amino-modified silicon dioxide, and reacting, so as to obtain a solid and liquid mixture II; separating solid and liquid, washing, and drying, so as to obtain the heavy metal ion adsorbent. The heavy metal ion adsorbent has the characteristics that the adsorbing speed is quick, the adsorbing capacity is high, the regeneration process is simple, and the property is still stable even after recycling for multiple times; the steps of the preparation method are simple, the cost is low, the condition is mild, and the environment-friendly effect is realized.