Silica beads immobilized with 2-hydroxy-5-nonylacetophenoneoxime (LIX 84) were prepared after silica surface modi®cation by g-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (SB-L). Batch and packed-column tests were conducted to evaluate the metal ion removal capabilities of the prepared adsorbent. Equilibrium isotherms of the SB-L with aqueous solutions containing copper ions were obtained. In addition, the kinetic performances for copper ion removal from aqueous solutions were investigated. The results showed that the amount of extraction increases with solution pH in the range between 1.5 and 5. The selectivity was also experimentally investigated, these results showed that the SB-L adsorbed copper ions selectively in the presence of other metal ions such as Ni 2 , Co 2 , Zn 2 , Cd 2 , Ca 2 and Mg 2 . From the regeneration experiments, it was found that the copper ions adsorbed at the SB-L surface were recovered by acidic solutions. The recovery ratios were between 78% and 90%, depending on the types of acidic solutions. The results showed that the SB-L prepared may be used for the selective extraction of copper ions from aqueous solutions.