Persimmon tannin is abundant as a kind of natural polymer,which has strong depreciate adsorption with heavy metal ions for the rich adjacent hydroxyl groups in the B ring.The metal adsorbents made by persimmon tannin developed rapidly during recent years because of the low cost,environment friendly and high adsorption efficiency.Here we reviewed the structure characteristics of persimmon tannin,the advances of adsorbing heavy metal ions concluding radioactive elements,precious metals,toxic heavy metals and so on by persimmon tannin and the preliminary description of mechanism in adsorbing heavy metal ions by persimmon tannin.In addition,the development of the adsorption materials made by persimmon tannin is also prospected.