The feasibility of adsorptive removal of single component organic compound (para-chlorophenol) by Calgon Filtrasorb 400 (F400) carbon was investigated. The Redlich-Peterson equation was found to be the best fit model for describing the equilibrium relationship between the para-chlorophenol adsorption onto F400 carbon. Four adsorption columns with different column geometry and adsorbent particle stratification were used to examine the adsorption kinetics onto F400 carbons. The Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) model was applied and modified to analyse the performance of the columns and the effect of different operating variables. When combining the effects of adsorption efficiency and the associated pressure drop of each type of adsorption columns tested, the carbon stratified tapered column has been determined to be the most efficient engineering option for removing organics, in which the enhancement of the adsorbent bed in terms of longer breakthrough time and higher saturation percentage is the greatest amongst the four types of columns with reasonably small pressure drop across the fixed-bed column.