Five low rank, coal-based adsorbents, i.e. coal, grus, two chars, and an activated carbon were used to adsorb a low molecular weight organic compound from aqueous solution. The rates of adsorption were found to conform to pseudo first order kinetics with good correlation (r(2) greater than 0.996). This kinetic model was used to calculate pseudo first order rate constants (k(1)＇ min(-1)) and relative rate constants (rate constant/unit mass of adsorbent, k(1)" min(-1) g(-1)) for the adsorption process. Rate properties have been explained in terms of both a diffusion and chemically controlled rate determining step. Rate constants for the five adsorbents vary as expected on the basis of their physical properties, that is slowest for grus (compressed coal) and fastest for the activated carbon.