The kinetics and thermodynamics of beta-carotene and chlorophyll adsorption from xylene solution onto acid-activated bentonite (AAB) within the temperature range 65-95 degrees C were investigated. Adsorption of beta-carotene was described well with the Langmuir isotherm, whereas chlorophyll adsorption was determined well with the Freundlich isotherm, and the experimental data on chlorophyll adsorption were also fitted by the Langmuir isotherm to a certain extent, as reflected by correlation coefficients (R-2) over 0.9865. In addition, the adsorption of beta-carotene and chlorophyll onto AAB are favorable. The pseudo-second-order model was found to explain the kinetics of adsorption of both pigments more effectively. increase of temperature enhanced the adsorption rate and equilibrium adsorption capacity of beta-carotene and chlorophyll on AAB. The activation energy for the sorption of beta-carotene and chlorophyll on AAB was 19.808 kJ/mol and 16.475 kJ/mol, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters Delta H degrees, Delta S degrees and Delta G degrees, computed from K-F of the adsorption isotherm constant, were 21.766 kJ/mol, 92.244J/K moll and -9.554 kJ/mol respectively for the adsorption of beta-carotene on AAB at 65 degrees C, and for adsorption of chlorophyll on AAB at 65 degrees C were 31.051 kJ/mol, 93.549J/K mol and -0.729 kJ/mol, respectively. The adsorption of beta-carotene and chlorophyll in xylene solution on AAB was a spontaneous and endothermic process with increasing in the randomness at the solid-solution interface. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.