Adsorption processes of Cu(II), Co(II), and Hg(II) on two aminated silica gel surfaces with immobilized ethylenediamine and diethylenediamine groups were studied by a new 2(3) full factorial design. Two metal quantity levels, temperatures of 25 and 50 degreesC, and silica amounts of 100 and 200 mg were employed. Our study indicates that higher factorial design levels increase adsorption for all metals evaluated, with the exception of the mass parameter. Adsorption is also significantly affected by important antagonistic and synergistic effects involving all factors. Both functionalized silica gel surfaces present higher interactions and good perspectives in preconcentration studies for mercury. The factorial design results are also discussed in terms of some solvation properties for each of the metals studied. (C) 2001 Academic Press.24114551