The potential of different forms of chitosan to adsorb iron(III) ion from a Jectofer [an iron(III)-sorbitol-citric acid complex] solution was investigated. The working solution was chosen as Jectofer, to mimic the composition of excess iron(III) as may be found in biological systems. The equilibrium studies showed that chitosan powder has the highest sorption capacity for the iron(III) ion when compared to chitosan flakes and microspheres. The amount of iron(III) adsorbed onto chitosan was found to increase with the contact time to reach equilibrium within 3 h at 37degreesC. A higher initial concentration of a Jectofer solution resulted in a higher amount of iron(III) adsorbed. Higher pH values, in the range 2-7, also resulted in an increase in iron(III) uptake from the solution. The data of adsorption from the Jectofer solution were found to correlate well with the Freundlich isotherm equation. In vitro adsorption experiments showed that chitosan is capable of adsorbing excess iron, measured in terms of the ferritin level, in human blood.