An investigation was conducted regarding the adsorption and desorption of L-arginine from aqueous solutions with a new spherical cellulose adsorbent containing the sulfonic group. The adsorption of L-arginine on the adsorbent was time, pH, initial concentration of L-arginine and temperature dependent. The adsorption process followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, and was endothermic (DeltaH =24.66 KJ/mol). Almost 100% L-arginine adsorbed on the adsorbent could be recovered with a 2.0 mol/L NH4OH or 2.0 mol/L NH4Cl aqueous solution. After 25 and 40 cycles of adsorption and desorption, the decrease in adsorption capacity reached to 4.9% and 20.3%, respectively.