Methods of making macroporous cation exchange resins are described. The macroporous cation exchange resins are in the form of particles such as beads that contain a hydrophilic, crosslinked, (meth)acrylic-type polymeric material. Additionally, methods of purifying a positively charged material using the macroporous cation exchange resins, methods of making chromatographic columns that contain the macroporous cation exchange resins, methods of making filter elements that contain the macroporous cation exchange resins, and methods of making porous composite materials that contain the macroporous cation exchange resins are described.