The adsorption behavior of aromatic acids on Amberlite XAD-4 resin was investigated by measuring the distribution coefficient by batch method. The adsorption of solutes on XAD-4 was affected by the several factors such as, analyte concentration, the pH of solution and concentration of pairing ion. The enhanced adsorption of solutes on XAD-4 in the presence of tetraalkylammonium salt as an ion pairing reagent, referred to as ion interaction, was suggested to follow a double layer model where the pairing ion occupies a primary layer at the adsorbent while the solute anion and other anions in the system comlpete for the secondary layer. Therefore, the ability of an ion pairing reagent to enhance solute adsorption depended significantly on the type and concentration of counter-ion and co-anion accompanying the ion pairing reagent or salt used for ionic strength control. In addition, a good linear relationship between the logarithm of capacity factors measured by batch and elution method as a function of the concentration of ion pairing reagent and methanol can be used to predict the retention in elution method on the basis of capacity factors measured by batch method.