The present research evaluates the efficacy of granular ferric hydroxide (GFH) for perchlorate removal from aqueous solutions. Laboratory scale experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of various experimental parameters such as contact time, initial perchlorate concentration, temperature, pH and competing anions on perchlorate removal by GFH. Results demonstrated that perchlorate uptake rate was rapid and maximum adsorption was completed within first 30 min and equilibrium was achieved within 60 min. Pseudo-second-order model favorably explains the sorption mechanism of perchlorate on to GFH. The maximum sorption capacity of GFH for perchlorate was ca. 20.0 mg g(-1) at pH 6.0-6.5 at room temperature (25 degrees C). The optimum perchlorate removal was observed between pH range of 3-7. The Raman spectroscopy results revealed that perchlorate was adsorbed on GFH through electrostatic attraction between perchlorate and positively charged surface sites. Results from this study demonstrated potential utility of GFH that could be developed into a viable technology for perchlorate removal from water. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.