The adsorption isotherms and rates of two dyes and humic acid from aqueous solutions onto chitosan-encapsulated activated carbon (CEAC) beads were measured at 30degreesC. Such beads were prepared by mixing different weight percents of cuttlefish-based chitosan (100%, 80%, 67%, and 55%) and rice-based activated carbons. It was shown that the isotherms of dyes and humic acid were well fitted by the Freundlich equation. The adsorption capacity and rate could be enhanced when activated carbon was encapsulated with chitosan. Four simplified kinetic models including the pseudo-first-order equation, pseudo-second-order equation, intraparticle diffusion model, and the Elovich equation were tested to follow the adsorption processes. The adsorption of dyes was best described by the Elovich equation, but that of humic acid was best described by the intraparticle diffusion model. The kinetic parameters of each best-fit model were calculated and are discussed in this paper.