The reaction of 3-propylethylenediamine groups covalently bonded to silica gel with pentane-2,4-dione in benzene resulted in a modified surface having 11.4 . 10(-4) mol g-1 of ligand sites which adsorb the divalent cations Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ from ethanol solution with maximum adsorptions of 5.0 . 10(-4) mol g-1, 2.0 . 10(-4) mol g-1, 5.0 . 10(-4) mol g-1 and 5.9 . 10(-4) mol g-1, respectively. The adsorption isotherms are very similar in shape for all the cations and conform to the Langmuir model. The complexes formed on the surface have a molar composition of one cation to two anchored groups of Schiff bases and the geometries of the complexes are similar to those obtained in solution.684261266