Removal of lead (Pb2+) ions from aqueous solution by adsorption onto surfactant-immobilized interlayer species bonded to montmorillonite clay (SIIS-clay) was investigated. Surfactant-immobilized interlayer chromate bound to clay (SIICr-clay) was prepared by treatment of montmorillonite clay with hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) bromide followed by chromate adsorption at the intergallery framework of the clay. Experiments were carried out as a function of solution pH, solute concentration, and temperature (5-45 degreesC). The Dubinin-Kaganer-Radushkevich (DKR) model was adopted to describe the single-solute adsorption isotherms. Adsorption energy for lead ions on SIICr-clay computed from the DKR equation shows that a precipitation mechanism was operative. The thermodynamic parameters (DeltaG(0), DeltaH(0), and DeltaS(0)) for lead ion adsorption on SIICr-clay were also determined from the temperature dependence. The kinetics of metal ion adsorption was examined and the first-order rate constant was finally evaluated. Adsorbed lead ions could be recovered completely on leaching with the disodiurn salt of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution and the adsorbent was found to readsorb lead ions repeatedly after leaching. Thus, surfactant-modified smectite clays offer an effective method for designing a recyclable adsorbent for lead ions. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.