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 (ΔH_ads = 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.