Ofloxacin (OFL) removal from aqueous solution by carbon activated made from luffa sponge was studied. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the activated carbon (AC) surface was rough. The AC surface area was 834.008 m(2)/g and the average pore diameter was 5.35 nm. AC adsorbed 96% of OFL at a concentration of 30 mg/L, and the maximum amount of OFL adsorbed was about 132 mg/g. The AC adsorption kinetic data fitted a pseudo-second order model (R-2=0.9997) well, indicating chemisorption control. The experimental data at 308 K best fitted the Freundlich isotherm equation (R-2 = 0.9912), indicating multilayer adsorption. A thermodynamic simulation showed that adsorption was spontaneous and exothermic. The optimal conditions for OFL adsorption were pH 6, initial OFL concentration 30 mg/L, temperature 293 K, and AC dosage 0.5 g/L. Fourier -transform infrared spectroscopy showed that phosphorus -containing functional groups, and C=O, C-O-C, and C=C bonds were present on the AC surface. (C) 2017 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.