The adsorption behavior of organic substances from different industrial wastewaters onto activated carbon (F 300) was compared with the adsorption onto an organic polymer resin (Lewatit EP 63). The adsorption capacity of Lewatit EP 63 was lower at low equilibrium concentrations and similar at high equilibrium concentrations compared with activated carbon. The adsorption behavior is represented in similar portions for high K values for both sorbents obtained with the adsorption analysis. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements showed that the fluorescent components of the wastewaters were not adsorbed on Lewatit EP 63 which means that there was selective adsorption.