Adsorption of metanil yellow onto granular activated carbon were studied in a batch system. Various operation parameters such as adsorbent dosage, pH, initial concentration, contact time and temperature were optimized. Experimental equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed by Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm. The equilibrium process was described well by Freundlich isotherm model. From determined separation factor (1/n), adsorption of metanil yellow by granular activated carbon could be employed as effective treatment method. By analysis of kinetic experimental data, the adsorption process were found to confirm to the pseudo second order model with good correlation and the adsorption rate constant ($k^2$) decreased with increasing initial concentration. Thermodynamic parameters like activation energy, change of free energy, enthalpy, and entropy were also calculated to predict the nature adsorption in the temperature range of 298~318 K. The activation energy was determined as 23.90 kJ/mol. It was found that the adsortpion of metanil yellow on the granular activated carbon was physical process. The negative Gibbs free energy change (${Delta}G=-2.16{sim}-6.55kJ/mol$) and the positive enthalpy change (${Delta}H=+23.29kJ/mol$) indicated the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the adsorption process, respectively.