Dry-column vacuum chromatographic technique is introduced for remediation of wastewater for the first time. A previously prepared chemically modified silica gel containing covalently immobilized Hg 2+-selective acridino-crown ether selector molecules was used as an adsorbent. Removal of Hg 2+ from highly contaminated river water was carried out to study practical applicability. Adsorption capacity, preconcentration factor, pH-sensitivity and selectivity in separation were determined. The adsorbent proved to be outstanding in selectivity, only Ag+ and Cu 2+ interfered among 29 cations, was inert toward organic contaminants, exhibited regenerability and pH-independency between 3.0≤ pH≤ 7.0. The proposed method showed a moderate efficiency in both adsorption (32 mg Hg 2+/1 g adsorbent) and preconcentration (preconcentration factor of 100). A maximum 10 L of wastewater/1 g adsorbent ratio is recommended as an upper limit for applicability. The described method showed a unique robustness and simplicity compared to conventional ion-chromatographic methods and an improved selectivity over physical interaction-or simple functional group-based adsorptions.