Abstract

The invention relates to modified fly ash used as adsorbent for removing copper and bivalent metals from industrial and mine water and comprising functionalized mesoporous material. The ash has removal, desorption and regeneration properties enabling it to be used in a novel manner for removal purposes following the desorption process, wherein the surface area of the ash is approximately 415 m2/g, its pore volume for adsorption is approximately 0.535 cm3/g, and its pore volume for desorption is approximately 0.602 cm3/g.