An　investigation　was　conducted　regarding　the　adsorption　and　desorption　of　l-arginine　from　aqueous　solutions　with　a　new　spherical　cellulose　adsorbent　containing　the　sulfonic　group.　The　adsorption　of　l-arginine　on　the　adsorbent　was　time,　pH,　initial　concentration　of　l-arginine　and　temperature　dependent.　The　adsorption　process　followed　the　Langmuir　adsorption　isotherm,　and　was　endothermic　(ΔH　=　24.66　KJ/mol).　Almost　100%　l-arginine　adsorbed　on　the　adsorbent　could　be　recovered　with　a　2.0　mol/L　NH4OH　or　2.0　mol/L　NH4Cl　aqueous　solution.　After　25　and　40　cycles　of　adsorption　and　desorption,　the　decrease　in　adsorption　capacity　reached　to　4.9%　and　20.3%,　respectively.　©　2006　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.