Two Schiff base derivatives, (2-pycolylimino)benzen-1,4-diol and (2-pyridylimino)benzen-1,4-diol) were immobilized onto sporopollenin (Lycopodium clavatum) surfaces. The compounds were fully characterized by an infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The sorption capacities of the immobilized surfaces toward Ru(III) ions were investigated by batch sorption experiments. For the sorption experiment, the Ru(III) concentration, initial pH, and the temperature effects were studied. The isotherm data of Ru(III) ions were correlated reasonably well as a Freundlich sorption isotherm. The thermodynamic studies showed that the Ru(III) sorption onto immobilized sporopollenin derivatives is a non-spontaneous, endothermic and physical reaction. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.