Due　to　the　nearly　identical　physical　and　chemical　properties　of　tungsten　(W)　and　molybdenum　(Mo),　the　efficient　recycling　of　W-Mo　resources　remains　a　significant　research　challenge.　In　this　work,　a　W　ion　imprinted　polymer　(W-IIP)　was　proposed　for　a　more　efficient　and　environmentally　friendly　W-Mo　separation　process.　W-IIP　was　prepared　by　a　bulk　polymerization　method　with　4-vinylpyridine　as　monomer,　W(Ⅵ)　as　ion　template,　and　ethylene　glycol　dimethacrylate　as　crosslinker.　Characterization　by　Fourier　transform　infrared　spectroscopy,　X-ray　diffraction,　scanning　electron　microscopy,　nitrogen　adsorption–desorption　isotherms,　and　thermogravimetry　revealed　that　W-IIP　possessed　abundant　pyridyl　recognition　sites,　uniform　particle　structure,　a　large　specific　surface　area,　and　good　thermal　stability.　Through　optimizing　the　adsorption　conditions,　the　maximum　separation　coefficient　βMoWMAX　reached　75,　and　an　adsorption　capacity　QW　of　63.8　mg⋅g−1　was　achieved　at　pH　4.5,　a　temperature　of　75　℃,　and　a　time　of　300　min.　Based　on　the　adsorption　isotherms　and　kinetics　fitting　results,　the　adsorption　process　followed　the　pseudo-first-order　kinetic　model　and　the　Langmuir　model,　and　the　adsorption　of　W　was　spontaneous　monolayer　surface　adsorption.　After　five　adsorption–desorption　cycles,　QW　remained　at　92　%.　The　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　characterization　combined　with　the　W-Mo-H2O　thermodynamic　diagram,　suggested　that　the　combination　of　the　pyridine　groups　as　recognition　sites　and　the　imprinted　cavity　of　the　W-IIP　with　tungstate　may　be　the　reason　for　the　effective　selective　adsorption　of　W.　Considering　its　excellent　affinity　and　specific　selectivity,　W-IIP　might　evolve　into　a　potential　material　for　the　separation　of　W　and　Mo　although　it　faces　limited　recycling　ability,　cost　implications　and　potential　scalability　constraints　in　the　future.　To　address　these　limitations,　future　research　could　focus　on　developing　new　synthetic　methods　and　optimizing　the　monomers　to　further　enhance　the　overall　performance　of　W-IIP.　©　2025　Elsevier　B.V.