Organobentonite modified with hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) was used to quantify adsorption of heavy metals. Adsorption of cadmium and lead increased with increasing pH and soil/solution ratio. Based on these experiments, an optimal soil/solution ratio and an optimal pH was selected. Adsorption experiments with cadmium and lead were conducted to quantify adsorption selectivity on bentonite and organobentonite. Adsorption of heavy metals on organobentonite was slightly reduced relative to bentonite. Because of competition between cadmium and lead, adsorption of each metal was reduced due to the presence of the other. Adsorption selectivity of cadmium was higher than lead. This study used the principle of hard soft-acid-base (HSAB) to interpret adsorption.