Sorption of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in soil influences its fate and transport in the environment. The sorption behaviors of TBBPA in two soils with different characteristics were investigated using batch equilibration experiments in the study, and the impacts of ionic strength and pH on the sorption were also evaluated. The results showed that the fast sorption rather than the slow sorption played a main role in the sorption process. The nonlinear sorption isotherms of TBBPA in the soils were observed and the Freundlich model could describe the sorption behavior of TBBPA well. The calculated K-F were 78.5 and 364.6 (mg/kg)(mg/L)(-n) for LN soil (loamy clay) and GX soil (silt loam), respectively. Soil organic matter (SOM) played a main role in the sorption of TBBPA,which contributed about 90% to the sorption in the soils. The desorption hysteresis of TBBPA was revealed in the single-cycle sorption and desorption experiments. The sorbed amount of TBBPA decreased with the increase in solution pH and increased with the increase in ionic strength. It was found that the effects of ionic strength on the sorption were mainly caused by the change of solution pH. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.