In　this　study,　static　and　dynamic　adsorptions　of　petrochemical　secondary　effluent　by　activated　carbon　were　studied　conditions.　COD　removal,　the　relative　molecular　weight　distribution　and　the　components　of　organics　in　wastewater　were　investigated.　The　static　adsorption　results　show　that　the　saturated　adsorption　capacity　of　the　activated　carbon　was　1.1　mg·g-1　and　the　adsorption　rate　was　0.7　mg·min-1　for　COD.　Dynamic　adsorption　results　show　that　the　optimal　operating　conditions　were:　hydraulic　retention　time　(HRT)　1　h　and　hydraulic　loading　0.76　m3·m-2·h-1.　The　effluent　COD　of　adsorption　was　lower　than　50　mg·L-1　withthe　removal　efficiency　of　49.9%.　The　dissolved　organics　in　petrochemical　secondary　effluent　were　mainly　organics　with　relative　molecular　weight　lower　than　5000,　59.72%　of　which　was　removed　by　activated　carbon　adsorption,　without　change　in　the　relative　molecular　weight　distribution　of　organics.　The　results　of　resin　classification　assay　show　that　the　adsorption　capacity　of　activated　carbon　for　organic　constituents　was　in　the　following　order:　hydrophobic　bases　(HOB)>hydrophobic　acids　(HOA)>hydrophilic　substances　(HIS)>hydrophobic　neutrals　(HON).　The　removal　rates　of　HOB　and　HOA　were　79%　and　61%,　respectively,　but　the　adsorption　of　HIS　and　HON　by　activated　carbon　was　very　poor.　©　2016,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.