In this study, various physicochemical parameters were evaluated for maize tassel, a novel adsorbent. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) isotherm was used to experimentally model N-adsorption data (up to 1 relative pressure of 0.30); the results indicated that the, powdered material was mesoporous with a BET specific surface area, total pore volume (up to a relative pressure of 0.98), and average pore width (4\//A by BET) of 2.52 m(2)/g, 0.0045 cm(3)/g, and 7.2 nm, respectively, for the 150-300-mu m fraction. Laser diffraction pattern analysis yielded particle size distributions for the 45-50-, 50-150-, and 150-300-mu m fractions. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy revealed a microstructure showing predominantly flattish, rodlike particles. The material exhibited stability to thermal decomposition up to about 230 degrees C, as evidenced by the results obtained from simultaneous thermal analysis and differential scanning-calorimetry. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodical, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 111: 1923-1930, 2009