Two Polish beidelite and smectite-illite clays were characterized (porosity 0.26 and 0.28, resp., sp. surface (N) 37.27 and 31.54 m(2)/g, resp., pK (H2O) 7.85 and 7.53, resp., cation exchange capacity 81.97 and 31.53 cmol(+)/kg, resp.) and used for adsorptive removal of Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni and Cd ions from aq. solns. contg. 1 or 2 metal ions. Distribution coeffs. for each clay and metal were detd. The ability of studied ions to the active centres of clays decreased in a series Cr>Cu>Zn>Ni>Cd. Presence of the second ion in soln. resulted in a decrease in distribution coeffs. The beidelite clay showed much higher distribution coeffs. than the smectite-illite one.