The adsorption of poly(styrene sulfonate), PSS, of different molecular weights (70,000, 500,000, and 1,000,000 mol/kg), from aqueous solutions on alpha-alumina has been investigated. PSS of the lower molecular weight adsorbs less than the others whose adsorption isotherms overlap. The adsorption is found to increase with increasing ionic strength of the Solutions indicating that both electrostatic and non-clectrostatic contributions are involved in the adsorption process. Upon addition of the anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS, PSS is found to adsorb less the more SDS added. SDS is found to be preferentially adsorbed as shown both from the simultaneous adsorption of' the components and also from the sequential adsorption process where SIDS in all cases displaces preadsorbed PSS from the solid Surface. The displacement of preadsorbed polyelectrolyte by surfactant is a very slow process and the displacement is less pronounced as the molecular mass of the polyclectrolyte increases indicating the fewer number of contact points to the surface. This is further underlined by the effect on the displacement of PSS by SDS upon increasing the ionic strength of' the solutions. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.