BACKGROUND: The performance of peat for copper sorption was investigated in batch and fixed-bed experiments. The effect of pH was evaluated in batch experiments and the experimental data were fitted to an equilibrium model including pH dependence. Hydrodynamic axial dispersion was estimated by tracing experiments using LiCl as a tracer. Six fixed-bed experiments were carried out at copper concentrations between 1 and 60 mg dm(-3) and the adsorption isotherm in dynamic mode was obtained. A mass transport model including convection-dispersion and sorption processes was applied for breakthrough curve modelling. RESULTS: Maximum uptake capacities in batch mode were 22.0, 36.4, and 43.7 mg g(-1) for pH values of 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0, respectively. Uptake capacities in continuous flow systems varied from 36.5 to 43.4 mg g(-1) for copper concentrations between 1 and 60 mg dm(-3). Dynamic and batch isotherms showed different shapes but a similar maximum uptake capacity. Sorbent regeneration was successfully performed with HCl. A potential relationship between dispersion coefficient and velocity was obtained with dispersion coefficients between 5.00 x 10(-8) and 2.95 x 10(-6) m(2) s(-1) for water velocities ranging between 0.56 x 10(-4) and 5.03 x 10(-4) m s(-1). The mass transport model predicted both the breakpoints and the shape of the breakthrough curves. CONCLUSIONS: High retention capacities indicate that peat can be used as an effective sorbent for the treatment of wastewater containing copper ions. (c) 2009 Society of Chemical Industry