Activated carbon prepared from rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) seed coat was used to remove basic blue 3 (BB3) from aqueous solutions. Batch adsorption studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of contact time, and initial concentration (50-500 mg/L) on the removal of BB3 at temperature of 30 degrees C. The equilibrium adsorption data of BB3 on activated carbon were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models. The isotherm data were well described by the Freundlich isotherm model. The monolayer adsorption capacity was 227.27 mg/g at 30 degrees C. Pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models were used to analyze the kinetic data obtained at different concentrations. The adsorption kinetics was well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Rubber seed coat-based activated carbon was shown to be a promising material for adsorption of BB3 from aqueous solutions. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.