Iminosalicyl groups attached to a silica gel surface have been used for the adsorption of metal ions from ethanol. This organofunctionalised silica adsorbs iron, nickel, cobalt, copper, zinc and cadmium from ethanol by both batch and column techniques. The average distribution coefficient determined for each metal ion was as follows (ml g^–1): Fe^III, 4.5 × 10²; Co^II, 1.4 × 10²; Ni^II, 1.1 × 10²; Cu^II, 3.6 × 10²; Zn^II, 3.0 × 10²; and Cd^II, 2.2 × 10².