Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)A new aluminium-incorporated layered inorganic-organic hybrid material (Al-GPTS-TU) has been successfully synthesized by using sol-gel based precursor under mild temperature condition and silylaing agent (GPTS-TU) derived from the reaction of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTS) and thiourea (TU). The hybrid material was characterized by using various instrumentation techniques and the result confirmed the attachment of organic functionality to the inorganic silicon network. The interlamellar distance for the hybrid material was found to be 41.33 angstrom. The synthesized hybrid was used for the removal of cadmium from dilute aqueous solution with variation of solution parameters. Thermodynamic parameters Delta H and Delta S, evaluated for the adsorption of cadmium from water solution, were found to be 73.68 kJ mol(-1) and 282.9 J mol(-1) K(-1), respectively, indicating adsorption process to be endothermic in nature. The negative value of Delta G indicated the feasibility and spontaneity of ongoing adsorption process. The hybrid material containing multiple coordination sites such as S and N in the attached organic functionality can find potential applications for the removal of various metal toxicants from water bodies to prevent the eco-system. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.124440447UGC, New DelhiFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)