The amounts of Cu(II), Zn(II), and phosphate sorbed from single- and binary-sorbate systems on goethite (alpha-FeOOH) were measured. Experiments were carried out as a function of equilibrium pH (2-7), sorbate concentration (0.21-1.57 mM), and temperature (15-35 degrees C). The aqueous phase contained 0.1 M NaNO3 to maintain ionic strength constant. A convenient method was used to obtain sorption isotherms of single Cu(II), Zn(II), and phosphate at a fixed equilibrium pH, which could be well described by the Langmuir equation. Thermodynamic parameters for the sorption of single Cu(II) and phosphate including the free energies, isosteric enthalpies, and entropies were determined. In contrast to the single-sorbate systems, the sorption of metals was inhibited in the binary Cu(II)-Zn(II) system, whereas the sorption of both sorbates was enhanced in the binary Cu(II)-phosphate system under the conditions studied. The validity of the Langmuir competitive model for the prediction of the sorption isotherms in a binary Cu(II)-Zn(II) system was also discussed.