The hydrotalcite-like compound [Zn 2 Al(OH) 6 ]NO 3 ·nH 2 O (ZnAl-NO 3 ) was intercalated with the chelating agents diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (dtpa) and meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (dmsa) by anion-exchange to uptake Cu 2+ , Cd 2+ and Pb 2+ from aqueous solutions. The amounts of heavy metals adsorbed at variable contact times and metal concentration were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The amounts removed of the three metal cations by both adsorbents were high. The shape of the adsorption isotherms obtained indicated specific interactions and a high host–guest affinity. However, the metal ions were removed from solution not only by chelation, but also by precipitation or even by isomorphic substitution of Zn 2+ by another metal ions in the brucite-like layer.