Aerated and rotated mode adsorption experiments were carried out for the removal of a textile dye (reactive blue MR) from aqueous solution using native and pre-treated biomass of Trametes versicolor. The effect of process parameters like contact time, dosage of adsorbent and adsorbate and pH on adsorption was investigated. The higher the dye concentration, the lower was the adsorption. Increase in biomass dosage increased the adsorption. Kinetic study showed that the adsorption of dye on fungal biomass was a gradual process, and a second-order kinetic model fitted the present experimental data well. Experimental data were analyzed using Langmuir and Temkin et seq isotherms. Acidic pH was favorable for adsorption. Studies on pH effect and desorption show that chemisorption seems to play a major role in the adsorption process. Of the native and pre-treated biomass studied, autoclaved biomass showed a better adsorption capacity. The adsorption capacity of autoclaved biomass in aerated mode was found to be 50.51 mg g(-1). Aerated mode showed a better adsorption capacity than rotated mode. (c) 2007 Society of Chemical Industry