Abstract: Pomelo peel-based activated carbon (PPAB) was prepared from the residue after extracting naringin. The adsorption performance for Cu²⁺ in solution was studied under different pH, density, adsorbate concentration, time, temperature, adsorbent particle size and desorption agent. The results showed that the removal rate of PPAB for Cu²⁺ was 94.47 %, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 7.09 mg/g under the conditions of the pH 6, the density of PPAB 4 g/L, the initial concentration of Cu²⁺ 30 mg/L, the temperature 35 ℃ and the time 60 min. The effect of 0.25 mol/L hydrochloric acid desorption for Cu²⁺ was the best, and the recovery rate was 98.21 %. The Langmuir isotherm could be well fitted in the adsorption process. The average yield of PPAB was 36.9 %, and the specific surface area was up to 1 764 m²·g^-1. PPAB has broad prospects as adsorbent for the treatment of wastewater with low concentration heavy metals.