A novel insoluble copolymer containing beta-cyclodextrin (CD) and polyamidoamine (PAMAM) units was prepared, characterized and used as a sorbent for the removal of 4-chlorophenol (CP), 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) from aqueous solutions. The effects of several operating variables such as pH and contact time were investigated. Results showed that the copolymer (PAMAM-CD) exhibited high sorption amount and acceptable sorption equilibrium time toward the three chlorophenols. The sorption amount of TCP was even up to 174.7 mg/g when the equilibrium concentration of TCP solution was 10 mg/L at 283 K. The order of sorption for the three chlorophenols was TCP > DCP > CP. The sorption kinetics followed both Ho-McKay and Weber-Morris equations. The equilibrium isotherm data were well fitted by Freundlich equation. PAMAM-CD was conveniently regenerated by washing with ethanol and it could be used as a promising sorbent. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.