A simple and reliable method for the extraction and determination of trace amounts of copper(II) ions using activated carbon (AC) impregnated by a new Schiff base 5-[(4-heptyloxyphenyl)azo]-N-(4-propyloxyphenyl)-salicylaldimine (HPPS) and atomic absorption spectrometry is presented. Recovery efficiency and the influence of pH value, volume of sample solution, effect of different eluents, and interfering ions were evaluated. The limit of detection (3σ) was 2.62 ng•mL -1 and the relative standard deviation (n＝10) was 1.5%. Under optimum conditions, the copper ions were concentrated 25 fold using 250 mL of sample solution and 10 mL of eluent. This procedure has been successfully applied to the determination of copper in different water samples.