Rice husk is an enormously generated agroindustrial waste which causes serious environmental pollution. The aim of the current study is to constructively utilize rice husk nanosorbents (n-RH) for the biosorptive removal of 2,4-D from aqueous solution. The combined effect of the important process parameters such as initial pH, temperature, n-RH dosage, initial 2,4-D concentration and contact time on 2,4-D percentage removal was evaluated using five-level Box Benhken design (BBD). Maximum 2,4-D removal (%) of about 96.87% was perceived at pH of 5.0, temperature 30 °C, n-RH dosage of 1.5 g l-1, initial 2,4-D concentration of 100 mg l-1 and contact time of 60 min. The n-RH experimental data was fitted to the equilibrium and kinetic models which revealed a heterogenous and chemisorption mode of adsorption. A highest 2,4-D adsorption capacity of 76.92 mg g-1 was achieved with the help of n-RH adsorbent, while the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the adsorption process was revealed via thermodynamic studies. The FT-IR results revealed the presence of amino, carbonyl, hydroxyl and silica functional groups on the surface of the n-RH biosorbent confirming the kinetic result. Thus, the reported n-RH agro-industrial waste biosorbent could be promising for pesticide removal from contaminated aqueous systems. © 2016 Elsevier B.V.