Citric　acid　modified　cellulose　waste　(CMCW)　was　prepared　via　esterification　and　used　as　a　low-cost　biosorbent　for　the　removal　of　methylene　blue　(MB)　from　aqueous　solutions.　The　effects　of　biosorbent　concentration,　initial　pH　of　MB　solution,　biosorption　temperature,　contact　time,　and　initial　MB　concentration　on　the　biosorption　of　MB　were　investigated　using　batch　biosorption　technique　under　static　conditions.　The　experimental　results　showed　that　CMCW　exhibited　excellent　biosorption　characteristics　for　MB.　The　maximum　biosorption　capacity　of　MB　was　up　to　214.5　mg/g　at　an　adsorption　temperature　of　293　K.　The　removal　rate　of　MB　onto　CMCW　reached　the　maximum　at　pH＞4　and　the　biosorption　reached　an　equilibrium　at　about　50　min.　The　kinetic　data　can　be　described　well　with　the　pseudo-second-order　model　and　the　isotherm　data　was　found　to　fit　the　Langmuir　isotherm　with　a　monolayer　adsorption　capacity　of　211.42　mg/g.　The　biosorption　appears　to　be　controlled　by　chemisorption　and　may　be　involved　in　surface　adsorption　and　pore　diffusion　during　the　whole　biosorption　process.　©　2014　Wuhan　University　of　Technology　and　Springer-Verlag　Berlin　Heidelberg.