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Alginate encapsulated nano-hydroxyapatite beads were synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface analysis, and X-ray diffraction. Their adsorptive potential for Ni2+and rhodamine B was explored in batch mode and by fixed-bed column passage. In the batch system, maximum uptake capacity for Ni2+was 360 mg g−1and 480 mg g−1for rhodamine B. In the presence of humic acid, sorption was enhanced. For the continuous-flow system, adsorption was effective at low flow rate. For both pollutants, mass transport resistance increased during adsorption. The overall rates of rhodamine B and Ni2+uptake were found to be controlled by external mass transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]