In the present work, poly(1,8-diaminonaphthalene) (poly(1,8-DAN)) was synthesized by the reaction of 1,8-diaminonaphthalene (1,8-DAN) with ammonium persulfate (APS) and then the equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamics of rhodium(III) adsorption onto poly(1,8-DAN) were studied. Poly(1,8-DAN), Rh(III)-poly(1,8-DAN) and Rh(III)-1,8-DAN complex were characterized by UV-vis. and FTIR spectroscopy, thermal analysis, potentiometric titration and electrical conductivity. In the adsorption studies, the effects of acidity, the temperature and the concentration of rhodium(III) were examined. It was found that poly(1,8-DAN) has Rh(III) adsorption capacity (q(m)) of 11.11 mg/g polymer. The adsorption data fitted better to the Freundlich isotherm then the Langmuir isotherm, and the kinetics of the adsorption fitted to pseudo second order kinetic model. The Delta G degrees values were calculated as -733 at 20 and -11.31 kJ/mol at 60 degrees C. The enthalpy (Delta H degrees), entropy (Delta S degrees) and the activation energy (E-a) of the adsorption were found as 21.335 kJ/mol, 97.057 J/mol K and 70.210 kJ/mol, respectively. It was predicted that the adsorption of Rh(III) onto poly(1,8-DAN) was an endothermic chemical adsorption process governed by both ionic interaction and chelating mechanisms. It was also observed that the adsorption of Rh(III) lowered the electrical conductivity of the pol(1,8-DAN). (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.