The activated carbon was prepared using solid waste called Terminalia Catappa Linn shell and the physicochemical properties of carbon were investigated to explore the adsorption process. The effectiveness of such carbon in adsorbing copper ion from aqueous solution has been studied as a function of agitation time, adsorbent dosage, initial metal ion concentration, temperature, pH, and desorption. Adsorption equilibrium studies were carried out in order to optimize the experimental conditions. The adsorption of copper ion onto carbon followed a first order kinetic model. Adsorption data were modeled using both Langmuir and Freundlich classical adsorption isotherms. The adsorption capacity Qmwas 30.60, 33.85, 35.87, and 38.35 at initial pH 7.0. The equilibrium time was found to be 40 min for all initial concentrations studied. Desorption studies were performed with dilute HCl and show that ion exchange is the predominant copper ion adsorption mechanism. The adsorbent was found to be both effective and economically viable.