The adsorption of hexametaphosphate ion, an important deflocculant used in the ceramic industry, from aqueous solutions onto kaolinite has been studied at different temperatures. The adsorption isotherm follows the Langmuir model: the thermodynamic parameters Delta G(ads)(0), Delta H-ads(0) and Delta S-ads(0) as were calculated and found to be consistent with an interaction model involving the formation of an inner-sphere complex between HMP and aluminol groups. Also, the dependence of the adsorption behavior on the kaolinite volume fraction has been studied and discussed in term of association processes between the clay particles. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.