Abstract: Investigating adsorption mechanism and ability of the heavy metal ions on minerals is important for correct understanding properties of mineral adsorption,application of environmental mineral materials,behavior of environmental chemistry of heavy metal ions.It is commonly accepted that palygorskite is an important environmental mineral materia1.On the basis of preparing pure palygorskite sample,experiments of copper ion adsorption on palygorskite were carried out under single effecting factor.Meanwhile,pH values of solution were tested and surface structure of palygorskite was investigated before and after adsorption experiments.The results indicate that mechanism of removing copper ion by palygorskite was mainly contributed to copper ion hydrolysis by palygorskite inducement and interaction between copper hydroxide(positive charge colloid)and palygorskite(negative charge colloid)although the removal efficients of copper ion is related to oscillating rate,adsorption time,initial pH value and amount of adsorbent.Strictly speaking,this mechanism is different from adsorption of mineral interface.Because palygorskite has nanometer crystals and is active in surface chemistry.its surface hydrolysis behaves alkaline in the aqueous suspended system of palygorskite-water.It leads the pH value of solution to be increased,at which the copper ion could be basically wholly hydrolysed.