In this study, the kinetic and isothermal behaviors of anion polyacrylamide (APAM) on a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) microfiltration membrane were investigated to better understand the adsorption mechanism. A series of adsorption experiments were conducted to determine the effects of the initial APAM concentration, contact time, solution pH and temperature on the adsorption performance. The results showed that the three isotherm models (Langmuir equation, Freundlich equation and Temkin equation) favorably fit the adsorption process with R-2 values of 0.98957, 0.90721 and 0.96321, respectively. The adsorption rate of APAM onto the PTFE membrane increased with increasing temperature, and the adsorption reaction reached equilibrium at 20 h. The values of thermodynamic adsorption parameters (Delta(r)G(m)(theta), Delta H-r(m)theta, and Delta S-r(m)0) suggested that the adsorption process was not spontaneous but endothermic. In addition, high temperatures favored adsorption, and the adsorption can be categorized as physisorption. Specifically, the main physisorption force was hydrogen bonding. The adsorption process consisted of two phases: rapid adsorption and stable adsorption. The three kinetic equations provided a good fit according to the R-2 values and were applicable in the following order: pseudo-first-order > pseudo-second-order > Elovich. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.