Adsorption of pure SO2 is studied for the first time on graphene oxide (GO). The adsorption mechanism was found to be fundamentally different from conventional carbon materials like activated carbon or carbon fibers. It was observed that GO binds SO2 only by physisorption (ΔHads = 18.04 kJ mol-1) and still the adsorption capacity was found to be comparable to traditional adsorbents like activated carbon or carbon molecular sieves. The 2D layered morphology as well as the absence of extensive micropores well known to promote SO2 to SO3 conversion are responsible for the observed physisorption characteristics. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2016.