The adsorption capacities and rates of Cu(II) and a commercial reactive dye RR222 on flake- and bead-types of chitosans prepared from three fishery wastes (shrimp, crab, and lobster shells) were compared at 30 degrees C. It was shown that all equilibrium isotherms could be well fitted by the Langmuir equation. The adsorption capacity of Cu(II) on flake- and bead-types of chitosans appeared to be comparable, but the adsorption capacity of RR222 on bead type was much larger than that on flake type by a factor of 2. 0-3.8. The rates of dye adsorption on both types of chitosans indicated different controlling mechanisms. In addition, the bead type of chitosans exhibited a greater rate compared to the flake type.