The adsorption technique using sawdust of jackwood timber has been applied for the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions. The extent of removal was dependant on concentration, pH and temperature of the solution. With an initial concentration of 25 mg/L at 30 degrees C and pH 7, the removal was found to be 62.5% by using sawdust as adsorbent. The time to reach equilibrium was found to be 6 h. The higher uptake of 79.2% of the initial concentration of 25 mg/L occurs at pH 5.5 at 30 degrees C. The applicability of Freundlich isotherm to the sawdust-phenol system was tested at 10, 20 and 30 degrees C at pH 5.5, which can be used for the design of wastewater treatment plants. The spent adsorbent can be regenerated and reused by acid treatment.