The adsorption of Ni-63 from aqueous solutions using NKF-6 zeolite was investigated by a batch technique under ambient conditions. The adsorption was investigated as a function of contact time, pH, ionic strength, foreign ions, humic substances (FA/HA) and temperature. The kinetic adsorption was well described by the pseudo-second-order rate equation. The adsorption of Ni-63 on NKF-6 zeolite was strongly dependent on pH and ionic strength, and the adsorption of Ni-63 increased with increasing NKF-6 zeolite content. At low pH values, the presence of FA enhanced the adsorption of Ni-63 on NKF-6 zeolite, but the presence of HA had no drastic effect. At high pH values, the presence of FA or HA decreased the adsorption of Ni-63 on NKF-6 zeolite. The adsorption isotherms were well represented by the Langmuir model. The thermodynamic parameters (i.e., Delta H-0, Delta S-0 and Delta G(0)) for the adsorption of Ni-63 were determined from the temperature dependent isotherms at 293.15, 313.15 and 333.15 K, respectively, and the results indicate that the adsorption reaction was favored at high temperature. The results suggest that the adsorption process of Ni-63 on NKF-6 zeolite is spontaneous and endothermic. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.