The effect of complexing agents on adsorption and desorption of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions using chitosan was investigated. Three complexing agents were used including EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), citric acid, and tartaric acid. It was shown that the isotherm data could be fitted by the Langmuir equation under a limited concentration range. Furthermore, the adsorption processes were analyzed by an intraparticle diffusion model and the rate parameters of intraparticle diffusion for Cu(II) adsorption could be correlated with the initial Cu(II) concentrations. Finally, the desorption of Cu(II) and its complexes from the loaded chitosan was tested using complexing agent solutions. Under comparable conditions, tartaric acid solution gave the best desorption efficiency. (C) 1999 Society of Chemical Industry.