The adsorption behavior of Crystal Violet (CV) on a sporopollenin-based solid phase, carboxylated diaminoethane sporopollenin (CDAE-S), was investigated under column conditions, and the obtained breakthrough profiles were used in evaluations and quantifications. The adsorption capacity of the CDAE-S was observed to be considerably higher than that of diaminoethane sporopollenin (DAE-S), revealing the importance of electrostatic interactions and carboxyl groups in the adsorption of CV on the CDAE-S. The binding of CV on the DAE-S was found to be a typical nonspecific adsorption, whilst cation-exchange was proposed as the main mechanism for monolayer adsorption of CV on the CDAE-S. Hence in the present study, the cation-exchange is suggested as an effective process for removal and recovery of CV from aqueous effluents, and in view of the pH point of zero charge matter, multifunctionality of the CDAE-S is discussed in detail, and various application possibilities based on "aminocarboxylic acid" functionality are also drawn. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.