Activated carbon derived from rattan sawdust (ACR) was evaluated for its ability to remove phenol from an aqueous solution in a batch process. Equilibrium studies were conducted in the range of 25-200 mg/L initial phenol concentrations, 3-10 solution pH and at temperature of 30 degrees C. The experimental data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. Equilibrium data fitted well to the Langmuir model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 149.25 mg/g. The dimensionless separation factor R-L revealed the favorable nature of the isotherm of the phenol-activated carbon system. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model best described the adsorption process. The results proved that the prepared activated carbon was an effective adsorbent for removal of phenol from aqueous solution. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.