Equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics of adsorption of acid black 1 (AB1) by coal-based granular activated carbon (CGAC) were investigated with the adsorption variables of initial concentration of dye, contact time, temperature, and pH. The adsorption reaction of AB1 by activated carbon was caused by electrostatic attraction between the surface (H+) of activated carbon and the sulfite ions (SO3 -) and nitrite ions (NO2-) possessed by AB1, and the degree of reaction was highest at pH 3 (97.7%). The isothermal data of AB1 were best fitted with Freundlich isotherm model. From the calculated separation factor (1/n) of Freundlich, it was confirmed that adsorption of AB1 by activated carbon could be very effective. The heat of adsorption in the Temkin model suggested a physical adsorption process (< 20 J mol-1). The kinetic experiment favored the pseudo second order model, and the equilibrium adsorption amount estimated from the model agreed to that given by the experiments (error < 9.73% ). Intraparticle diffusion was a rate controlling step in this adsorption process. From the activation energy and enthalpy change, it was confirmed that the adsorption reaction is an endothermic reaction proceeding with physical adsorption. The entropy change was positive because of an active reaction at the solid-liquid interface during adsorption of AB1 on the activated carbon surface. The free energy change indicated that the spontaneity of the adsorption reaction increased as the temperature increased.