The　demand　of　silver　is　increasing　rapidly　in　recent　decades,　because　silver　and　its　related　products　are　widely　used　in　modern　industry　and　decoration.　It　is　necessary　to　recover　silver　from　waste　water　using　an　efficient　and　environmental　friendly　method　due　to　its　environmental　and　economic　benefits.　In　this　paper,　we　eliminated　the　interference　of　Cl-　and　light　conditions,　and　then　studied　the　characterization　and　biosorption　performance　of　silver　by　Bacillus　licheniformis.　The　max　biosorption　amount　was　87.4　mg/g　(dry　weight)　with　the　initial　Ag+　concentration　of　100　mg/L　at　pH　6.0.　XRD　pattern　showed　that　the　product　was　an　amorphous　compound.　SEM/EDS-mapping　and　FT-IR　results　implied　that　phosphate,　amino　and　carboxyl　groups　located　on　the　cell　walls　involved　in　the　biosorption　of　Ag+.　The　XPS　spectra　result　showed　that　the　value　of　EB　of　Ag　3d5/2　(367.51　eV)　corresponded　to　the　energy　values　for　Ag　(I),　and　indicated　Ag+　adsorbed　to　the　surface　of　cell　still　maintained　mono-valence.　The　results　confirm　that　B.　licheniformis　just　adsorb　Ag+　but　cannot　covert　soluble　Ag+　to　silver　nano-particles　(AgNP).　©　2019　Fujian　Institute　of　Research　of　the　Structure　of　Matter.　All　rights　reserved.