The physicochemical properties of an activated carbon produced from sewage sludge (SAC) were determined and compared with those of a market activated carbon (MAC). Phenol and nitrobenzene were selected as the target compounds and their adsorption behaviors in water and cyclohexane were studied and compared. The experimental results showed that the surface area of SAC was only 1/4 of that of the MAC. Functional groups on the SAC are all acid groups while basic groups are the dominant on the MAC. Based on the properties of the activated carbons and the adsorption behaviors of the two organic pollutants, it could be inferred preliminarily that phenol adsorption was mainly affected by surface area but nitrobenzene adsorption was affected by both surface area and surface functional groups. In water, when the initial concentration is between 0.1 and 10 mmol/L, the maximum phenol and nitrobenzene adsorption capacity of SAC is 0.48 and 1.26 mmol/g respectively, which is 1/4 and 1/3 of that of MAC. In cyclohexane, SAC's phenol adsorption capacity is higher and nitrobenzene adsorption capacity is lower than that in water; but MAC's phenol adsorption capacity does not change much and nitrobenzene adsorption capacity decreases a lot compared that in water. The results further indicate that the hydrophobicity and the polarity of the organic pollutants can greatly affect their adsorption in water. For SAC, polar interaction and hydrophobic interaction may be the main mechanisms affecting the sorption of nitrobenzene in water. For MAC, hydrophobic interaction and pi-pi interaction may be the main mechanisms affecting the sorption of nitrobenzene in water. For both phenol and nitrobenzene, the adsorption capacities of MAC are higher than that of SAC. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.