The adsorption of indigo carmine (IC) and trypan blue (TB) by chitin was kinetically investigated as dependent on temperature and pH. Experimental data obtained at different temperatures for the adsorption of each dyestuff were applied to the pseudo first-order, the pseudo second-order and the intraparticle diffusion rate equations, and the pseudo first-order rate constants (k(1)), the pseudo second-order rate constants (k(2)) and the intraparticle diffusion rate constants (k(p)) at these temperatures were calculated, respectively. In addition, adsorption isotherms of each dyestuff by chitin were also determined at different temperatures. It was seen that adsorption isotherms fitted the H type. Chitin was then modified via ring-opening reaction with cyclic acid anhydrides (succinic, maleic and 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic) in lithium chloride/N,N-dimethylacetamide. Chitin derivatives obtained were compared according to their capabilities to adsorb IC and TB. It was determined that IC and TB were more adsorbed by chitin modified with 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic anhydride (CBA) and chitin modified with maleic anhydride (CMA), respectively. 31.33% of IC (C-0: 300 ppm) by CBA, and 44.29% of TB (C-0: 200 ppm) by CMA were adsorbed. Then, the adsorption of IC by CBA and of TB by CMA was kinetically investigated as dependent on temperature. The constants k(1), k(2) and k(p) related to the adsorption of IC by CBA and of TB by CMA were calculated as stated above. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.