Removal of anionic dyes from aqueous solutions by an ion-exchanger based on pullulan microspheres

► A new biodegradable adsorbent was obtained by grafting reaction onto pullulan. ► Grafted pullulan was transformed in microspheres by suspension crosslinking method. ► Small size and high porosity confer to microspheres excellent adsorption properties. ► Adsorbent had good adsorption properties independent of the pH of aqueous medium. ► This strong basic exchanger could be used to remove dyes from textile effluents.