Intercalated halloysites with sodium acetate at various contact time were prepared. The resulting materials were characterised by X-ray powder diffraction. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, scanning electronic microscopy, and specific surface area evaluation. The modified halloysites were employed as Cu(II) adsorbents from aqueous solutions. Various parameters were studied through the batch method. Kinetic data, equilibrium isotherms, and thermodynamic parameters were evaluated by considering several models. The fraction of halloysite intercalated with sodium acetate remained low, up to 7 days, then linearly increased with contact time. Thirty days were required to achieve a ratio of 91%. For this sample, a proliferation of small tubes (nanotubes) was evidenced. The best results were achieved with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model associated with intraparticle diffusion and with the Redlich-Peterson isotherm, for the equilibrium data. The thermodynamic data show that adsorption would be spontaneous at low temperatures, of exothermic nature, resulting in an adsorbate-adsorbent system much more ordered. The insertion of CH3COONa into halloysite significantly affects the Cu(II) adsorption. The magnitude in enhancement of copper adsorption on solid phase thus depends on the content of the carboxylic functional groups, which increases with the insertion of CH3COONa into the halloysitic matrix. The involved mechanism is quite complex. It implies electrostatic considerations and a cationic exchange process. The most intercalated sample was found to be very effective as adsorbent of copper(II) from aqueous solutions. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.