Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)This work aims to investigate the single component adsorption of glucose, fructose, sucrose and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) using six cationic forms (Na+, Ca+2, Ba+2, Sr2+, K+ and Mg2+) of the X zeolite in a stirred tank reactor. A mathematical model was proposed taking into account the kinetic and mass transfer phenomena. The estimated parameters were used to evaluate adsorption rates and mass transfer resistances involved in the process. Based on experimental results, it was found that the separation of glucose, fructose and sucrose from the reaction medium could be performed using the following forms of zeolites: NaX. NaX/BaX and MgX/CaX. However, a low adsorption capacity and a high mass transfer resistance for separation of FOS were found. The analysis of the estimated process parameters and experimental data led to the conclusion that the NaX type zeolite was the most appropriated, since a higher adsorption rates and lower mass transfer resistance was found out in comparison to any other cationic forms. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.481127133Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)