Sugarcane bagasse-based activated carbons (SCBACs) with different chemical characteristics appropriate for the removal of phenol in aqueous solutions have been prepared. The steam activated carbon (SCBACS) is obtained from the carbonized sugarcane bagasse residues in the presence of nitrogen in the temperature range from 700 to 900 C. The chemically activated carbon (SCBACN) was obtained from the carbonized sugarcane bagasse residues using NaOH. The structure of the SCBACs was characterized by N2 adsorption at 77 K, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The BET methods are used to deduce the effective surface areas. The parameters, such as initial pH, temperature, initial phenol concentration, biosorbents dosage... etc., affecting the adsorption capacity of SCBACs toward phenol removal from aqueous solutions are investigated using batch experiments. The studies of kinetic models including pseudo first order and pseudo second-order are carried out. Adsorption isotherms are investigated. Equilibrium adsorption data fitted the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The thermodynamic parameters including ΔG, ΔH and ΔS for the adsorption processes of phenol onto the SCBACs are calculated. The negative values of ΔGindicated the spontaneous nature of adsorption. The prepared SCBACs are successfully applied to the removal of phenol from different water samples with a recovery% more than 80.0% and a relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 4.0%. Regeneration of the activated carbons can be easily performed using 0.5 M NaOH.