This paper investigates the ability of crab shell to remove nickel(II) ions from aqueous solution in a packed bed up-flow column with an internal diameter of 2 cm. The experiments were performed with different bed heights (15-25 cm) and using different flow rates (5-20 ml/min) in order to obtain experimental breakthrough curves. The bed depth service time (BDST) model was used to analyze the experimental data and the model parameters were evaluated. The column regeneration studies were carried out for seven sorption-desorption cycles. The elutant used for the regeneration of the sorbent was 0.01 M EDTA (disodium) solution at pH 9.8 adjusted using NH4OH. Due to continuous usage of crab shell. a performance loss was observed as the breakthrough curves become more flattened also indicated by the broadened mass transfer zone. The breakthrough time decreased uniformly from 28.1 to 9.5 h as the cycles progressed from one to seven, whereas nickel uptake remained approximately constant throughout the seven cycles. The life-factors for crab shell in terms of critical bed length and breakthrough time were found to be 1.1 cm/cycle and 0.17 per cycle, respectively. The elution efficiency was greater than 99.1% in all the seven cycles. The pH profiles during both sorption and desorption process were also reported. In sorption cycles, there was a sudden raise in pH in the early part of the process and then the pH decreased as the time progressed. In desorption cycles, pH decreased in initial stages and followed by gradual increase in pH, which eventually reached the pH of the inlet elutant. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.