The removal of azinphosmethyl from aqueous solution onto pyrolyzed ocean peat moss (Sphagnum sp.), as a residue, from the Rhode Island coast (USA), has been investigated at different temperatures and initial concentrations. The ocean peat moss had been pyrolyzed at 600 degrees C in nitrogen atmosphere before the adsorption process. The kinetic data obtained from batch studies have been analyzed using pseudo-first order kinetic model. The rate constants were evaluated at different temperatures. The thermodynamic parameters (Delta G degrees, Delta H degrees, Delta S degrees) for the adsorption process were calculated and the results suggest that the nature of adsorption is endothermic and the process is spontaneous and favorable. The activation energy for adsorption process was estimated, about 18.3 kJ mol(-1). According to this value the adsorption of azinphosmethyl onto pyrolyzed ocean peat moss is in the range of physical adsorption. The experimental data have been modeled using Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms. It was found that Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms give the best correlation with the experimental data. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.