The extraction of Stipa tenacessima L Alfa fibers was performed using alkaline procedure to remove noncellulosic substances such as pectin, lignin, and hemicellulose. The degree of polymerization of extracted and purified Alfa fibers was determined using viscosimetric method and extracted fibers were used as a cationic ion-exchange material by treating alkali-cellulose of Alfa with EpoxyPropylTriMethylAmmonium Chloride (EPTMAC). Evidence of grafting was monitored using IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetry analysis. Two EPTMAC-Alfa fibers with different %N were prepared and tested as adsorbent of four acid dyes: Acid Blue 25 (AB 25), Acid Yellow 99 (AY 99), Reactive Yellow 23 (RY 23), and Acid Blue 74 (AB 74). The modeling of the adsorption isotherms using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Jossens allowed the determination of isotherm constants leading to characterize the different adsorbent/adsorbate systems prepared. Thermodynamic parameters such as change in free energy (Delta G), the enthalpy (Delta H), and the entropy (Delta S) were also evaluated. Additionally, regeneration of adsorbent solid supports by desorption process in fixed bed column was reported. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 116: 3148-3161, 2010