The biosorption of tetradecyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (C(14)BDMA) onto activated sludge was examined in aqueous solution with respect to the contact time, temperature and particle size. Equilibrium reached in about 2 h contact time. An decrease in the temperature increases of biosorption capacity of C(14)BDMA onto activated sludge, which also increases with decreasing particle size. The experimental data fit the pseudo-second-order kinetics model well. The Langmuir and Freundlich models were applied to describe equilibrium isotherms, and the equilibrium partitioning data was described well by both models. Thermodynamic data showed that C(14)BDMA biosorption onto activated sludge was feasible, spontaneous and exothermic. The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometry results show that both physisorption and chemisorption were involved. The measured zeta potential values and the enhanced cation concentration indicate the presence of electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions and ion exchange. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.