Adsorptive　separation,　which　relies　on　the　size,　polarity,　and　affinity　of　guest　molecules,　is　an　efficient,　eco-friendly,　and　cost-effective　method.　Zeolite-based　adsorbents,　known　for　their　uniform　pore　size　and　regenerability,　have　exhibited　exceptional　performance　in　many　challenging　adsorption　processes,　such　as　the　separation　of　n-paraffin/i-paraffin　and　xylene　isomers.　Ion　exchange,　as　an　essential　piece　in　the　fabrication　of　zeolite-based　adsorbents,　significantly　affects　overall　performance.　In　this　review,　we　survey　the　recent　key　developments　and　issues　within　ion　exchange　research　of　zeolite-based　adsorbents,　including　the　solution　pH,　solution　concentration,　ion-exchange　cycles,　ion-exchange　temperature,　ion-exchange　time,　calcination　temperature,　and　discuss　the　mechanisms　of　their　influence　on　zeolite　adsorption.　This　review　also　elaborates　on　the　negative　effects　of　improper　ion　exchange　on　incomplete　cation　exchange,　cation　migration,　collapse　of　the　zeolite　structure,　and　blockage　of　zeolite　pores.　Other　parameters　that　lack　research　but　have　been　proven　to　affect　ion　exchange　are　also　mentioned.　We　hope　to　generate　interest　in　the　wider　community　and　encourage　others　to　make　use　of　ion　exchange　in　tackling　challenges　of　adsorption　separation　science　and　engineering.