Two new adsorbents [beta-cyclodextrin-chitosan (beta-CD-CTS) and beta-cyclodextrin-6-chitosan (beta-CD-6-CTS)] were synthesized by the reaction of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) with epoxy-activated chitosan (CTS) and the sulfonation of the C-6 hydroxyl group of beta-cyclodextrin with CTS, respectively. Their structures were confirmed by IR spectral analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis, and their apparent amount of grafting was determined by ultraviolet spectroscopy. The adsorption properties of beta-CD-CTS and beta-CD-6-CTS for p-dihydroxybenzene were studied. The experimental results showed that the two new adsorbents exerted adsorption on the carefully chosen target. The highest saturated capacity of p-dihydroxybenzene of beta-CD-CTS and beta-CD-6-CTS were 51.68 and 46.41 mg/g, respectively. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.