4-chloroisonitroacetophenone 4-aminobenzylhydrazone (CAAH) chemically anchored on a silica gel surface, has been used for Cu(II) sorption from aqueous solution. The surface modification processes was performed after silanization of silica, then analyzed by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry. The sorption behavior of copper(II) was evaluated by the use of batch and column methods. The influences of the concentration, temperature and pH for sorption on the immobilized silica gel with Schiff base were investigated. The obtained dynamic data were fitted to Freundlich, Langmuir and Dubinin-Raduskevich (D-R) isotherms. The mean sorption energy (E) of copper sorption onto silica gel was calculated from D-R isotherm indicating a chemical ion-exchange. The thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy change, enthalpy change and entropy change were calculated from the adsorption isotherms which were used to explain the mechanism of the adsorption. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.