This study aimed to evaluate the heavy metal adsorptivity of calcium-alginate-modified diethylenetriamine-silica gel (CaAD) and incorporate this biosorbent into a flow analytical system for heavy metal ions using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The biosorbent was synthesized by electrostatically coating calcium alginate onto diethylenetriamine (dien)-silica gel. Copper ion adsorption tests by a batch method showed that CaAD exhibited a higher adsorption rate compared with other biosorbents despite its low maximum adsorption capacity. Next, CaAD was packed into a 1 mL microcolumn, which was connected to a flow analytical system equipped with an FAAS instrument. The flow system quantitatively adsorbed heavy metals and enriched their concentrations. This quantitative adsorption was achieved for pH 3-4 solutions containing 1.0 x 10 (6) M of heavy metal ions at a flow rate of 5.0 mL min (1). Furthermore, the metal ions were successfully desorbed from CaAD at low nitric acid concentrations (0.05-0.15 M) than from the polyaminecarboxylic acid chelating resin (Chelex 100). Therefore, CaAD may be considered as a biosorbent that quickly adsorbs and easily desorbs analyte metal ions. In addition, the flow system enhanced the concentrations of heavy metals such as Cu2+, Zn2+, and Pb2+ by 50-fold. This new enrichment system successfully performed the separation and determination of Cu2+ (5.0 x 10 (8) M) and Zn2+ (5.7 x 10 (8) M) in a river water sample and Pb2+ (3.8 x 10 (9) M) in a ground water sample. (C) 2014 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.