Surface grafting of beta-cyclodextrin onto aminopropylsilica has been carried out under mild conditions using 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole as an activator. The obtained beta-cyclodextrin-silica has been characterized by means of chemical and IR spectral analysis. Adsorption of para-aminobenzoic and para-aminosalicylic acids onto the surface of hydroxylated silica, aminopropylsilica, and silica with chemically attached beta-cyclodextrin moieties has been studied in relation to duration of contact, equilibrium concentration, and solution pH. Chemical immobilization of beta-cyclodextrin onto silica surface improves adsorption parameters for aromatic amino acids. The well-known mathematical models for the kinetic and equilibrium adsorption processes have been used, and the main adsorption parameters have been calculated. Kinetic curves of aromatic amino acids adsorption correspond to the model of pseudo-second order reaction. The major contribution to the equilibrium adsorption of para-aminobenzoic and para-aminosalicylic acids onto beta-cyclodextrin-containing silica is due to the formation of surface inclusion complexes between grafted oligosaccharide molecules and aromatic amino acids. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.