Adsorption capacity of Cu2+ from aqueous solution onto H3PO4 activated carbon using rubber wood sawdust (RSAC) was investigated in a batch system. Kinetic and isotherm studies were carried out, the thermodynamic parameters like standard Gibb's free energy (ΔG°), enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°) were evaluated. The pseudo-second-order model was found to explain the kinetics of Cu2+ adsorption most effectively. The process optimization was performed through Central Composite Rotary Design using response surface methodology (RSM) by Design Expert Version 5.0.7 (STAT-EASE Inc., Minneapolis, USA). An initial concentration of 35 mg L-1, temperature of 26 °C, carbon loading of 0.45 g (100 mL)-1, adsorption time 208 min and pH of 6.5 was found to be the optimum conditions for the maximum uptake of copper ions of 5.6 mg g-1 in batch mode. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.