The present study was aimed to characterize the adsorptive properties of spent commercial activated carbon (SAC) and its regenerated derivatives (Pyro-RAC and CO2-RAC) for the decolourization of methylene blue dye. The materials were characterized for textural properties, thermal gravimetric profile and functional groups. Batch adsorption was evaluated at different concentrations of dye and contact times. The adsorption data were fitted into isotherm and kinetics models. Result shows that the specific area of activated carbons is in the order of Pyro-RAC > CO2-RAC > SAC. Pyro-RAC with a surface area of 768 m(2)/g exhibits a higher dye removal of 286 mg/g. The adsorption data fitted well with Langmuir and pseudo-first-order kinetics models. The thermal regeneration is feasible, and the adsorption is dependent on surface area, from which the regenerated activated carbon can be useful for the removal of dyes from wastewater.