The adsorption characteristics of 2,4-dinitrophenol from water onto a granular activated carbon, F-400, were studied at pH 4.3, 7 and 10. Adsorption equilibria of 2,4-dinitrophenol on GAC could be represented by Sips equation. Equilibrium capacity increased with decreasing pH. The differences in the rates of adsorption are primarily attributable to the differences in the equilibrium at the various pHs. Intraparticle diffusion was explained by surface diffusion mechanism. An adsorption model based on the linear driving force approximation (LDFA) was used for simulating the adsorption behavior of 2,4-dinitrophenol in a fixed bed adsorber.