Batch and column experiments were conducted to investigate zinc removal from dilute aqueous solution (i.e. effluent) by sorption onto synthetic nanocrystalline akaganéite. Due to favorite characteristics, this material was shown to be a promising inorganic adsorbent prepared in the laboratory, following a new method of synthesis-previously published. The effects of adsorbent amount, zinc concentration, solution pH value, ionic strength and temperature variation on the treatment process were mainly investigated during this study. Typical adsorption models were determined searching the mechanism of sorption while the bed depth-service time model was applied to column (with granular material) experiments.