Three biosorbents, SBNa (bagasse modified with sodium hydroxide), SBW (sugarcane bagasse modified with distilled water) and SBU (untreated sugarcane bagasse) were prepared from sugarcane stalks using microwave irradiation assisted method. The biosorbents were further characterized using physicochemical procedures. Experimental results obtained from characterization processes how that SBN a falls into the alkaline pH range (9.1) making it a very promising biosorbent for uptake of cationic species when compared with SWB (pH = 7.7) and SBU (pH = 7.1). All three biosorbents showed bulk densities lower than the minimum requirement (0.25gcm-3 ) for application in the removal of pollutants from waste water. Surface area studies also show that SBNa has the largest surface area (74.2 m2 /g), SBW (69.4 m2 /g) and SBU (34.44 m2 /g). A comparison of surface area of SBNa, SBW, SBU with that of similar biosorbents reveals that SBNa has the higher surface area. Therefore, the results obtained from this study can serve as a validation that all the three synthesized biosorbents could be good adsorbents for removal of cationic species from aqueous systems

Keywords : Agrowastes, characterization, physicochemical, bulk density, surface area, pH, Sugarcane bagasse, Sodiumhydroxide.