The effect of initial concentration, temperature, and shaking rate on the adsorption of three dyestuffs [orange II (O-II), crystal violet (CV), and reactive blue 5 (RB5)] and an ideal adsorbate, p-nitrophenol (PNP), by chitosan (Sigma C-3646) and the effect of temperature on the adsorption of O-II and CV by monocarboxymethylated chitosan (MCM-chitosan) were investigated. Kinetic data obtained for the adsorption of each dyestuff and PNP by chitosan and of O-II and CV by MCM-chitosan at different temperatures were applied to the Lagergren equation, and adsorption rate constants (k(ads)) at these temperatures were determined. These rate constants related to the adsorption of O-II and RB5 by chitosan and of O-II by MCM-chitosan were applied to the Arrhenius equation, and activation energies (E-a) were determined. In addition, the isotherms for adsorption, at different temperatures, of each dyestuff and PNP by chitosan and of O-II and CV by MCM-chitosan were also determined. These isothermal data were applied to linear forms of isotherm equations that they fit, and isotherm constants were calculated. Because the isotherm curves obtained for the adsorption of O-II and CV by chitosan and of CV by MCM-chitosan fit the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, b constants were applied to thermodynamic equations, and thermodynamic parameters (DeltaG, DeltaH, and DeltaS) were calculated. Lastly, chitosan and MCM-chitosan were compared with respect to the ability to take up the dyestuffs and PNP. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.