In this study two complexing materials were obtained for Mn2+, Zn2+, Fe3+ and Cr3+ removal from aqueous media. Synthetic cellulose powder (CELL) and cellulosic green material obtained from shredded maize stalk (MS) were modified with direct red 23 (DR 23) a complexing agent. Chelating materials MS-DR 23 and CELL-DR 23 were obtained by batch mode technique. Experimental parameters like interaction time, pH of aqueous solution, and initial concentration of DR 23 were studied to optimized the complexing process. The time necessary to reach equilibrium was 75 min for both cellulose materials. Also, pH=2 was the optimum adsorption value for DR 23 adsorption. The adsorption capacity for MS (56.8 mg/g) was more significant than for CELL (42 mg/g). Applicability of complexing materials was checking for Mn2+, Zn2+, Fe3+ and Cr3+ (Mx+) removal. The concentration of Mx+ retained on cellulosic materials was detected by AAS method. The formation of complex between DR 23 and Mx+ was evaluated across different pH levels: 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0 and 10.0. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to assess the adsorption of Mx+ onto MS-DR 23 and CELL-DR 23. The optimum contact time for evaluating metal adsorption was established at 90 min. A high level of metal adsorption was reported at 4 mg/L. The maximum adsorption capacity for MS-DR 23 was found to be 1.32 mg/g Mn2+, 1.30 mg/g Zn2+, 1.26 mg/g Fe3+ and 1.20 mg/g Cr3+, while for CELL-DR 23 it was 1.21 mg/g Mn2+, 1.08 mg/g Zn2+, 1.23 mg/g Fe3+ and 1.0 mg/g Cr3+. Reusability experiments conducted with 0.5 M HCL solution demonstrated effective regeneration and reusability of MS-DR 23 and CELL-DR 23, this suggests that MS-DR 23 and CELL-DR 23 can be used for multiple cycles of Mx+ removal from aqueous media. Also, the developed complexing materials were tested for Mn2+, Zn2+, Fe3+, and Cr3+ re-moving from tannery wastewater.