The　Acidosasa　edulis　shoot　shell　(AESS)　was　used　to　remove　Cu2+　from　water　for　the　first　time.　The　biosorbent　was　characterized　by　acid-base　titration,　point　zero　charge　determination,　SEM,　XRD　and　FTIR.　The　effects　of　operation　parameters　were　studied.　Kinetics　data　were　best　described　by　pseudo-second-order　model.　The　equilibrium　data　of　biosorption　were　best　described　by　Langmuir　isotherm　model.　The　calculated　thermodynamic　parameters　indicated　that　the　biosorption　was　endothermic　and　spontaneous.　Mechanism　analysis　indicated　that　biosorption　of　Cu2+　mainly　occurred　in　the　amorphous　region　of　AESS.　Phenolic　sites　and　carboxyl　sites　in　the　amorphous　region　of　AESS　were　mainly　responsible　for　the　biosorption.　Phenolic　sites　formed　complex　with　Cu2+,　while　carboxyl　sites　exchanged　H+　with　Cu2+　by　ion-exchange　mechanism.　The　results　revealed　that　AESS　could　be　used　as　an　effective　and　low-cost　biosorbent　for　Cu2+　removal　from　aqueous　solutions.　©　2014　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.