**Abstract**

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are lamellar ionic compounds containing a positively charged layer and exchangeable anions in the interlayer. In this study, LDHs intercalated with chelating agents were synthesized by anion exchange reaction. The materials synthesized in this work were characterized by chemical analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) to confirm their properties. Adsorption experiments from aqueous solutions containing known amounts of some heavy metallic ions onto the adsorbent were explored in a batch system. The amount of metallic ions adsorbed by LDHs intercalated with EDTA and precursor LDHs were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). In order to examine the adsorption capacity of LDHs intercalated with chelating agents, the adsorption experiment was investigated under the optimum condition. The data were applied to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model was more adequate to describe the kinetic in this case. LDHs intercalated with chelating agents synthesized in this work can be promising adsorbents for heavy metals. It is very significant information from the viewpoint of environmental protection.

**Keywords:** adsorption, layered double hydroxides (LDHs), chelating agent, heavy metals, adsorption isotherms, kinetics
