In this study the adsorption characteristics of phenol and 4-chlorophenol by surfactant-modified zeolite was investigated. Batch studies were performed to evaluate the effects of various experimental parameters such as contact time, adsorbent dose, initial concentration, and temperature on the removal of phenol and 4-chlorophenol. The sorption kinetics was tested for intraparticle diffusion, Elovich, and pseudo-second order reaction and rate constants of kinetic models were calculated. Equilibrium isotherms for the adsorption of phenol were analyzed by Freundlich, Langmuir, and Tempkin isotherm models. Freundlich isotherm was found to best represent the data for phenol and 4-chlorophenol adsorption. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.