The adsorption characteristics of cadmium and zinc onto a granular activated carbon were studied. Cadmium and zinc removals increased on raising pH and temperature, and decreased on raising the molar metal/carbon ratio. The adsorption processes were modelled using the surface complex formation (SCF) Triple Layer Model (TLM) with an overall bidentate species. A dependence of the SCF constant on pH, the molar metal/carbon ratio and temperature was observed, and a correlation for log K-ads was determined. The SCF model successfully predicted cadmium and zinc removals.