Aluminum oxide coated cellulose fibers were modified, by an impregnation procedure, with n-propylpyridinium chloride silsesquioxane polymer. Good adherence of the polymer to the surface of modified cellulose fibers was obtained due to the Al-O-Si bond formation, The metal X-ray mapping showed that aluminum oxide and the silsequioxane polymer (Al and Si mapping) are highly dispersed on the fiber's surface. The ion exchange capacity of the material, determined on basis of exchangeable chloride ions, was 1.1 mmol g(-1). The adsorption isotherms of FeCl3, CuCl2, and ZnCl2 from ethanol solutions were determined for each metal. The adsorption capacities were (in mmol g(-1)): FeCl3 = 0.82, CuCl2 similar to ZnCl2 = 0.37, The metal ions are adsorbed as anionic complex species by the following equilibrium reaction: mSiAl-Py+Cl- + MCln reversible arrow (SiAl-P-y)(m)+MCln+m.m-. (C) 1999 Academic Press.2132438444