New insights were achieved for the removal of plasticizer in the aqueous phase, through adsorption by H3PO4 and H2SO4 activated carbons. The preparation was made from Brazilian lignocellulosic residues from of the baru shell (Dipteryx alata) and the jurubeba fruit (Solanum paniculatum). Such residues were characterized by biochemical, elemental, thermogravimetric, Fourier Transform Infrared analyses. Subsequently, the influence of the biomass/acidity ratio (1/2; 1/3) was analyzed by applying adsorption kinetics for a diethyl phthalate concentration of 0.2 g L‐1, isotherms, and modeling. Chemical activation was carried out at 80 ºC 30 min‐1, drying at 110 ºC 15 h‐1 and carbonization under N2 flow at 800 ºC 60 min‐1 at a heating rate of 20 ºC min‐1. Precursors and ACs were characterized by nitrogen isotherm at 77 K, TGA-DTG, FT-IR, pHPZC. The reaction mechanisms, applicability of ACs were analyzed. ACs' yields varied: 31.7–50.4% (baru); 30–41.7% (jurubeba). The ACs exhibited a range of textural properties from: specific surface area (SBET): 2–269 m² g‐1, micropore volume (W0): 0.10–0.56 cm3 g‐1, micropore width (L0): 9.3–17.6 Å. Results revealed high thermal resistance, amorphous structure, mesoporous surfaces for baru ACs, microporous surfaces for jurubeba ACs, both predominantly acidic: pHPZC 1.8–3.9. This acidity facilitated non-electrostatic interactions during the adsorption.