The adsorption of Cd(II) ions which is one of the most important toxic metals by using sulphuric acid-treated wheat bran (STWB) was investigated. The effects of solution pH and temperature, contact time and initial Cd(II) concentration on the adsorption yield were studied. The equilibrium time for the adsorption process was determined as 4 h. The adsorbent used in this study gave the highest adsorption capacity at around pH 5.4. At this pH, adsorption capacity for an initial Cd(II) ions concentration of 100 mg/L was found to be 43.1 mg/g at 25 degrees C for contact time of 4 h. The equilibrium data were analysed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models to calculate isotherm constants. The maximum adsorption capacity (q(max)) which is a Langmuir constant decreased from 101.0 to 62.5 mg/g with increasing temperature from 25 to 70 degrees C. Langmuir isotherm data were evaluated to determine the thermodynamic parameters for the adsorption process. The enthalpy change (Delta H degrees) for the process was found to be exothermic. The free energy change (Delta G degrees) showed that the process was feasible. The kinetic results indicated that the adsorption process of Cd(H) ions by STWB followed first-order rate expression and adsorption rate constant was calculated as 0.00811/min at 25 degrees C. It was observed that the desorption yield of Cd(II) was highly pH dependent. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.