Kinetic behaviour of the hydrogen form of Duolite ES 468 polyacrylic acid-functionalised cation exchanger with respect to the sorption of non-ionic surfactant alkylmonoethers (ALM-10) and copper(IT) has been investigated; kinetic curves have been obtained, using spectrophotometric determination for ALM-10 and complexometric one for copper(II). Kinetic coefficient (B), intraparticle diffusion coefficient (D; m(2) s(-1)) and overall rate constant (k(0); s(-1)) for non-ionic surfactant and copper(II) depend on the solution composition, pH and the maximum sorption at the equilibrium. On increasing the solution acidity from pH 5 to pH 3 a decrease in both D and the equilibrium sorption for copper(II) although an increase in D for ALM-10 is observed. The action of copper(II) results in an increase in both D for ALM-10 and the maximum sorption at the equilibrium, whereas the action of ALM-10 leads to a decrease in the corresponding parameters for copper(II). Hydrogen form of Duolite ES 468 polyacrylic acid-functionalised cation exchanger is suitable for the simultaneous removal of non-ionic surfactant and copper(II) from waste water. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.