The adsorption of tetraalkylammonium ions on microporous (AC-micro) and mesoporous (AC-meso) activated carbons prepared from vinylidene chloride copolymer was investigated. The adsorbed amounts on AC-micro decreased in the order of tetraethyl-, tetrapropyl-, hexadecyltrimetyl-, and tetrahexylammonium bromide. Consequently it is suggested that the pore size of the activated carbon plays an important role in the adsorption. The adsorbed amounts on AC-meso increased with increasing alkyl chain length. In the case of mesoporous activated carbon, hydrophobic interaction between tetraalkylammonium ions and the surface of activated carbons contributes to in the adsorption. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.