This study investigates low-cost sorbents as replacements for current costly methods of removing heavy metals from solution. This investigation explores the waste iron oxide material (171), which is a by-product of the fluidized-bed reactor (FBR)-Fenton reaction, for use in the treatment of the wastewater in Taiwan. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the FI. In this investigation, F1 are tested as adsorbents for removing copper (Cu2+) from aqueous solutions. The highest Cu2+ adsorption capacity of F1 adsorbent was determined as 0.21 mmol g(-1) for 0.8 mmol dm(-3) initial Cu2+ concentration at pH 6.0 and 300 K. Adsorption data were well described by the Freundlich model and the thermodynamic constants of the adsorption process, Delta G degrees, Delta H degrees and Delta S degrees were evaluated as -6.12 kJ mol(-1) (at 318 K), 9.2 kJ mol(-1) and 48.19 J mol(-1) K-1 (at 318 K), respectively. Additionally, a pseudo-second-order rate model was adopted to describe the kinetics of adsorption. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.