Batch experiment studies were carried out on the adsorption of the major tar compound, 2-picoline, derived from the plant cell cultures of Taxus chinensis, using Sylopute while varying parameters such as initial 2-picoline concentration, contact time and adsorption temperature. The experimental data were fitted to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. Comparison of results revealed that the Langmuir isotherm model could account for the adsorption isotherm data with the highest accuracy among the four isotherm models considered. From the analysis of adsorption isotherms, it was found that adsorption capacity decreased with increasing temperature and the adsorption of 2-picoline onto Sylopute was favorable. The kinetic data were well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, while intraparticle diffusion and boundary layer diffusion did not play a dominated role in 2-picoline adsorption according to the intraparticle diffusion model. Thermodynamic parameters revealed the exothermic, irreversible and non-spontaneous nature of adsorption. The isosteric heat of adsorption decreased as surface loading (qe) increased, indicating a heterogeneous surface.