Adsorption isotherms were measured experimentally for Zn(II) adsorption from aqueous solution onto commercial activated carbons C, F-400, F-300 and Centaur HSL in a batch adsorber. The effects of carbon type and solution pH on adsorption isotherms were evaluated in this work. Nearly three times as much Zn(II) adsorbed onto C carbon as on the other three carbon types. The adsorption isotherm for Zn(II) was dependent on solution pH since Zn(H) did not adsorb to carbon below pH 2, and the adsorption isotherm increased as pH increased from 3 to 7. The adsorption isotherm of Zn(II) on C carbon was temperature independent while on F-400 the isotherm showed unusual behavior as temperature increased. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.