Two activated carbons employing Cyperus alternifolius as precursor were produced by using two different activating agents, H3PO4 and H4P2O7 (AC-H3PO4 and AC-H4P2O7). Both of activated carbons were allowed by single-step to get carbonized at 450 degrees C in a muffle furnace for 1 h. Activated carbons differed with the physical structure and chemical properties which were derived from Scanning Electron Microscope, N-2 adsorption/desorption isotherms and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Batched sorption studies were performed to compare the ciprofloxacin (CIP) adsorption properties of two carbons. The results indicated that AC-H3PO4 had 1066.4 m(2)/g of surface area and 1.151 cm(3)/g of total pore volume, while AC-H4P2O7 had 1040.3 m(2)/g of surface area and 1.227 cm(3)/g of total pore volume. Moreover. AC-H4P2O7 exhibited a higher portion of mesopores than AC-H3PO4. Fourier transform infrared spectra indicated two samples had similar functional groups. For both adsorbents, the adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption equilibrium data were very well represented by three commonly used isotherm model for AC-H3PO4 (Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin equations). As for AC-H4P2O7, the adsorption isotherm models fitted the data in the order: Langmuir > Temkin > Freundlich isotherms. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption of CIP onto both adsorbents was spontaneous and thermodynamically favorable, with exothermic nature of the adsorption of CIP onto AC-H3PO4 and endothermic nature onto AC-H4P2O7. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.