This paper deals with a new application of polyaniline (PAn) and polypyrrole (PPy) synthesized chemically. Coated on sawdust via cast method the polypyrrole/sawdust (PPy/SD) and polyaniline/sawdust (PAn/SD) were used as effective adsorbents for the removal of heavy metals, anions, color and COD (chemical oxygen demand) from mill paper wastewater. The products were investigated in terms of morphology and chemical structure using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. It was found that PPy/SD and PAn/SD are very simple to prepare and can be used as effective adsorbents in the removal of anions, heavy metals, color and COD from paper mill wastewater. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.