Equilibrium and kinetics of adsorption of ruthenium on activated charcoal were investigated experimentally using batch method under different conditions. The Freundlich isotherm model was used to describe the partitioning behaviour of ruthenium between the solution and adsorbent phase. A pore diffusion model, coupled with Freundlich isotherm equation was used to interpret the experimentally obtained adsorption kinetic curves at different concentrations of ruthenium. The model was found to fit with the experimental data fairly well. The effective diffusivity and external mass transfer coefficient were estimated to be in the range 10(-8) cm(2) s(-1) to 10(-4) cm s(-1) respectively. (C) 2016 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.