The adsorption characteristics of quinoline yellow by granular activated carbon were investigated experimently in the batch adsorber and packed column. The adsorptivity of activated carbon for quinoline yellow were largely improved by acidic pH and higher temperature. When the pH was 3 at $60^{circ}C$, quinoline yellowcould be removed 97 percent of initial concentration(10 mg/L). It was estabilished that the adsorption equilibrium of quinoline yellow on granular activated carbon was successfully fitted by Freundlich isotherm equation in the temperature range from $25^{circ}C$ to $60^{circ}C$. The estimated values of k and ${eta}$ are 38.71~166.60, 0.380~0.490, respectively. The breakthrough curve of activated carbon-packed column depends on the design variables such as initial concentration, bed height, and flow rate.