Abstract: The activated carbons from phoenix tree leaves were prepared by chemical activation with phosphoric acid. The influence of the impregnation ratio, activation temperature and activation time of the activated carbon on the pore structure and surface chemical properities were investigated. The activated carbon was analyzed using XRD, BET, FR-IR and XPS, and the surface point of zero charge (pH_pzc) was measured. The thermodynamic parameters for the adsorption of phenols of differert polarity in aqueous solution by phoenix tree leaves activated carbon were also studied. The results showed that the best activated carbon was obtained under the conditions with the ration of 3∶1(m/m) phosphoric acid to phoenix tree leaves, 450℃ activation temperature and 2.5h activation time. It would be helpful to increase the activated carbon surface polarity with high impregnation ratio, high activation temperature and long activation time. The polar surface of activated carbon grealy influenced on adsorption characteristics of phenols, and the adsorption of phenol, o-nitrophenol and p-nitrophenol reached the values of 79.2,3.9and 95.8mg/g, respectively. The thermodynamic results showed that the adsorption of different polarity phenols obeyed the Frenundlich isotherm model. The adsorption entrophy, entropy and Gibbs free energy were less then zero, and this is indicated the presence of an exothermic and spontaneous adsorption.