BACKGROUND: The main objective of this work was to evaluate the parametric sensitivity of model parameters of clavulanic acid (CA) adsorption in a stirred-tank reactor using zeolites. The system sensitivity was evaluated in terms of mass transfer and hydrodynamic parameters using two methodologies. First, the sensitivity factors of input variables were evaluated according to a disturbance of ± 20% in the nominal parameter values; second, the factorial design methodology was employed. In both cases, the responses were obtained by means of model simulations. RESULTS: From the sensitivity analysis by experimental design, the best operational conditions for adsorption of CA on zeolites were solid to liquid percentage 7.0%, initial CA concentration 300 mg L−1 and particle diameter 0.100 mm, which led to a reduction of 25 min in the adsorption time and 9% in the adsorption capacity, increasing the process productivity. CONCLUSION: The use of the factorial design had advantages compared with the conventional method because it provided information regarding the possibility of simultaneous changes in the factors investigated, enabling analyses of system sensitivity regarding operational parameters, as well as the choice of more suitable parameters. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry