The adsorption characteristics of nitro-organics such as trinitro-toluene (TNT), dinitro-toluene (DNT) and nitrobenzene (NB) on granular activated carbon (GAC) were studied to understand their dynamic adsorption behaviour for dilute aqueous solutions. A model was developed to predict the dynamics of the adsorption process and the effect of various design and operating parameters on adsorption characteristics. The model predictions would provide inputs to design of bench scale and pilot plant scale experiments. Section 2 of the paper describes the assumptions, predictions, development of the model and its validation with experimental data generated during bench scale and pilot plant trials. Section 3 presents the break-through characteristics obtained by conducting experimental runs for GAC of different surface areas from 650 to 1500 m(2)/g, hydraulic loading rates (HLR) ranging between 12 and 24 m(3)/h/m(2), feed concentrations from 50 to 130 mg/l and bed heights between 300 and 1000 mm for TNT, DNT and NB solutions. The effect of these independent parameters on the breakthrough time, adsorption capacity and the minimum concentration achieved in the effluent was studied and the results obtained are presented in this paper. These indicate that the adsorption capacity goes though a maximum when studied as a function of HLR and feed concentration. The adsorption capacity per unit surface area also shows a maximum around 1000 m2/g. The minimum bed height required for meeting environmental effluent discharge limit of 1 ppm was experimentally found to be about 800 mm. These results compare well with the predictions based on the model developed for column adsorption process. Data from these experimental runs and the model predictions have been used to optimise various parameters for the design of a pilot plant unit with 2001 per hour capacity.