A study on the adsorption of copper from aqueous solutions on activated charcoal has been carried out with an aim to obtain information on treating effluents from metal finishing industries. The effects of various experimental parameters like contact time, dosage of activated charcoal, initial concentration of metal ions, pH etc. have been investigated. The percentage removal of metal ions increased with the decrease in initial concentration and increase in contact time, dosage of adsorbent and initial pH. Adsorption data were modeled with the Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms, various first order kinetic equations viz. Lagergren, Natarajan-Khalaf and Bhattacharya and Venkobachar equations and intra particle diffusion model. These isotherms, first order equations and models were found to be applicable. The kinetics of adsorption is found to be first order with intra particle diffusion as the rate determining step. Removal of metal ions using activated charcoal is found to be favourable and hence it could be used as an adsorbent for the treatment of effluents from metal finishing industries, especially for the removal of metal ions.