This work presents an investigation of the adsorption of the radionuclide of Tl-201 from waste water on the fibrous tea factory waste. The experimental parameters were chosen as temperature, pH, stirring speed, adsorbent dose and nominal particle size in the ranges of 10.0-40.0 C, 2.0- 10.0, 300-720 rpm, 1.0-15.0 g/L and 0.15-0.71 mm, respectively. The most effective parameter on the adsorption yield was found to be pli of the solution. Fourier transforms infrared and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy studies were performed for the characterisation of the adsorption on tea waste. The experimental data were found to be in good agreement with the isotherm models of Freundlich, Halsey, Handerson and Dubinin-RadLishkevich. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the values of triangle G and triangle H are negative. It was obtained that the adsorption rate can be represented very well by second-order pseudo homogeneous kinetic model. All the results proved that fibrous tea plant waste makes an excellent adsorbent for Tl-201 radionuclide. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.