Activated carbon prepared from Annona squmosa seed for the removal of copper from aqueous solutions has been studied. Parameters such as equilibrium time, effect of pH, effect of metal ion concentration and adsorbent dose on removal were studied. The adsorbent exhibited good sorption potential for copper at pH 6.0. The adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order rate equation and fits the Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) and Tempkin equations well. The maximum adsorption capacity of copper was calculated from Langmuir isotherm and found to be 19.5 mg/g. The desorption studies were carried out using dilute hydrochloric acid solution and maximum desorption of 90% for copper occurred at solution pH.