The removal of copper and nickel from aqueous solution on the Na-bentonite has been studied under static conditions. Experiments were carried out as a function of solution pH, dosage of Na-bentonite, contact time and temperature. The adsorption equilibrium for nickel and copper onto Na-bentonite is reached in 200 min. The adsorption of copper and nickel is pH dependent in the pH range 2-9. The kinetic process of adsorption can be described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation excellently and the adsorption isotherm be fitted to the Langmuir model by means of regression analyses very well. The adsorption capacities follow the order of Cu(2+) > Ni(2+) in single-component systems and competitive adsorption capacities in order decreasing is Cu(2+) > Ni(2+) in binary-component systems. (C) 2009 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.