The removal of copper ions from an aqueous solution by both adsorption onto mesostructured silica containing magnetite (MSM) and magnetic separation were investigated. Magnetite (core) was used as a magnetic carrier material for magnetic separation, while amine-functionalized mesostructured silica (shell) was used as a heavy metal ion adsorbent. The pore properties, magnetic properties, and phase of the prepared materials were measured by a N₂ sorptometer, a vibration sample magnetometer, and powder x-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. After silica coating, the magnetite-core of the MSMs maintained their magnetic properties. The prepared adsorbent had a large loading capacity for Cu ions; up to 0.5 mmol of Cu per g of adsorbent. The recovery process of the metal ion loaded adsorbents by an electromagnetic force was very rapid and effective.