A novel adsorbent was prepared using bentonite modified with N-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC), which was named as HACC-bentonite. It was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffractomer (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cadmium is one of the toxic metals and has received a great deal of attention. The adsorption of Cd(II) onto HACC-bentonite was examined in aqueous solution with respect to the pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, temperature and initial concentration. Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms were employed to describe adsorption equilibrium. The maximum amount of Cd(II) adsorbed (q(m),), as evaluated by Langmuir isotherm, was 22.23 mg per gram of HACC-bentonite at pH 7 0 or so and 20 degrees C. The Lagergren-first-order and pseudo-second-order models were used to describe the kinetic data. The experimental data fitted well the pseudo-second-order kinetics. Furthermore, thermodynamic parameters, free energy (Delta G(0)), enthalpy (Delta H-0) and entropy (Delta S-0) of adsorption were also calculated. These parameters showed that the adsorption of Cd(II) onto HACC-bentonite was feasible, spontaneous and an endothermic process in nature. The change of adsorption enthalpy indicated that the adsorption of Cd(II) onto HACC-bentonite may be carried out via cation exchange. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.