Ethylenediamine grafted cellulosic fibers (ED-cotton) were synthesized by the reaction of chlorodeoxycellulose (CDC) with (ED). The performance of the modified materials was characterized by Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and elemental analysis of nitrogen. The prepared ED-cotton support was assessed for the removal of copper ions from aqueous solutions using a batch process. The effects of pH, copper initial concentration and contact time were investigated. The kinetic adsorption was found to follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Results revealed the formation of a 1:1 complex as proved by the adsorption limit. The binary system [Cu(II)/ED-cotton] was then tested in a bed fixed column for the adsorption of Acid Blue 25, as ligand in the metal-coordinating process. The effects of various experimental conditions, such as the flow rate, bed height and internal diameter, were studied. The Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) model was found suitable for the description of breakthrough curves at all experimental conditions. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.