An investigation was conducted regarding the adsorption and desorption of (L)-arginine from aqueous solutions with a new spherical cellulose adsorbent containing the sulfonic group. The adsorption of (L)-arginine on the adsorbent was time, pH, initial concentration of (L)-arginine and temperature dependent. The adsorption process followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, and was endothermic (Delta H = 24.66 KJ/mol). Almost 100% (L)-arginine adsorbed on the adsorbent could be recovered with a 2.0 mol/L NH4OH or 2.0 mol/L NH4Cl aqueous solution. After 25 and 40 cycles of adsorption and desorption, the decrease in adsorption capacity reached to 4.9% and 20.3%, respectively. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.