Polyurethane foam functionalized with alpha-naphthol was synthesis by covalently linking them through an -N=N-group. The characterization of 1-naphthol bonded to polyurethane foam (1-Nap-PUF) and the sorption behaviour of Ni2+ and Cu2+ on 1-Nap-PUF have been investigated. The optimum pH ranges for quantitative sorption were 6-10. The kinetics of sorption of the metal ions by the 2-Nap-PUF were found to be fast, reaching equilibrium in few minutes (5-10 min) and followed a first-order rate equation with an overall rate constant k in the range 0.16-0.22 min(-1). The numerical values of thermodynamics parameters enthalpy (Delta H), entropy (Delta S) and Gibbs free energy (Delta G) indicated the exothermic and spontaneous nature of sorption. The sorption data followed Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) type sorption isotherms. The average value of the sorption free energy Delta E = 9.84 kJ mol(-1) indicating ion exchange or chelations type chemisorption. The capacities of 1-Nap-PUF were 0.22 and 0.2 mmol g(-1) for Ni2+ and Cu2+, respectively. mechanism was discussed. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.