This paper reports the adsorption potential of activated carbon prepared from Euphorbia antiquarian L wood by H3PO4 impregnation in batch mode experiments. The effects of various process controlling parameters such as solution pH. adsorbate concentration and temperature are analyzed. Maximum of 58.40 mg/g of dye adsorbed at a pH of 2.0 and the adsorption decreases with increase in pH. Various kinetic and isotherm models are employed to analyze the feasibility and mechanism of adsorption. The prepared adsorbent removed 145.45 mg/g of dye at an initial dye concentration of 100 mg/L, and the kinetics obeys pseudo second order. Freundlich isotherm fits exceptionally well with good r(2) value. Thermodynamic parameters like Delta G degrees, Delta H degrees and Delta S degrees are evaluated. The positive enthalpy proves that the adsorption process is endothermic in nature. Experiments arc also performed for recovery of dye loaded carbon through regeneration as a function of OH, the maximum desorption occurs at a pH of 10 is only 19.29%. The prepared sorbent can be conveniently employed for the colour removal as its adsorptive capacity is comparable with commercial adsorbents.