Activated carbon was used as an adsorbent for the removal of phenol from aqueous solution under various operating conditions. Statistical design using MATLAB® tools was employed to study the effects of three variables on six different response factors. MATLAB® software was employed to solve proposed quadratic model equations and for fitting a quadratic response surface. All the models with a very high adjusted R‐square predicted the experimental data well. The Thomas, the Yoon‐Nelson, the Wolborska, the bed depth service time, and the linear driving force models were used to predict breakthrough curves for experimental data. The results showed that the linear driving force model was suitable for the prediction of the breakthrough curve data.