This work describes for the first time the synthesis and characterization of new promising materials based on cellulose (Cel) and cellulose acetate (Celac), previously modified with aluminum oxide (CelAl and CelacAl) and post functionalized with 1,4-diazabicyclo [2.2.2] octane-n-propyltrimethoxysilane chloride (SiDbCl 2), resulting the chemically modified hybrid materials CelAl/SiDbCl 2 and CelacAl/SiDbCl 2. The materials have shown to be useful in the adsorption of CuCl 2 from ethanol, presenting high effective adsorption capacity. In the adsorption process, the copper ions diffuse into the solid solution interface and are retained as anionic complexes CuCl 3- or CuCl 42-. An expressive effective adsorption capacity t Q, as well as the stability constants β 1 and β 2, were found for both adsorbents: (a) CelAl/DbCl 2: t Q = 0.33 × 10 -3 mol g -1, log β 1 = 4.23 (±0.04) and log β 2 = 6.99 (±0.03); (b) CelacAl/DbCl 2: t Q = 0.48 × 10 -3 mol g -1, log β 1 = 5.1 (±0.1) and log β 2 = 8.3 (±0.1). Both adsorbent materials are potentially useful in the pre-concentration and further analysis of Cu(II) present in trace amounts in ethanol, extensively used as an automotive fuel in Brazil. Regeneration of the adsorbents requires a very simple procedure consisting in their immersion in aqueous solution which causes the immediate release of the Cu(OH 2) n2+ species to the solution phase. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.