Batch and column kinetics of three basic dyes, methylene blue (MB), bismarck brown (BB) and acridine orange (AO), adsorption on autohydrolyzed (160-240 degrees C, 0-50 min) Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L) sawdust were studied, using untreated pine sawdust as control, in order to explore the potential use of these low-cost industrial byproducts (untreated autohydrolyzed sawdust) for wastewater cleaning. The effect of the autohydrolysis time and temperature on the microstructure and the crystallinity of pine sawdust was investigated be means of: SEM, FTIR, XRD and BET, in order to obtain information at a higher granularity level, in comparison with previous studies. The BET surface area increased from 0.89 to 19.3 m(2) g(-1). In the case of MB, the Freundlich's adsorption capacity K-F increased from 5.60 to 15.7 (mg g(-1))(Lmg(-1))(1/n), the amount of dye adsorbed when saturation is attained (Langmuir constant q(m)) increased from 38.7 to 88.0 mg g(-1), and the Bohart-Adams adsorption capacity coefficient N increased from 8046 to 14157 mg L-1, indicating the extent that the severity of the autohydrolysis treatment enhanced the adsorption behavior of the material. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.