The removal of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) using chemically modified banana peel powder (CMBPP) from aqueous solution was dealt with in the present investigation. Factors affecting the adsorption of RB5 (like pH solution, agitation speed, initial concentration of RB5, contact time and temperature) were investigated. FTIR, SEM-EDX, BET and Elemental analysis characterized the adsorbent material. Adsorption kinetic results evaluated by non-linear pseudo-second-order model was fitted well and showed good correlation with the experimental data than the pseudo-first-order model. The experimental equilibrium data evaluated by non-linear Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R), and Temkin equations and the experimental data were well described by the Langmuir isotherm model. Langmuir monolayer sorption capacity of RB5 onto CMBPP was observed at pH 3.0 (211.8 mg/g). The values of thermodynamic parameters revealed that the sorption process was feasible, spontaneous, endothermic, and physisorption in nature, i.e. (ΔG° 0, and ΔS° > 0). Desorption studies reveal that the maximum recovery of RB5 when 0.1 M NaOH solution used as a desorbent. The CMBPP also exhibited excellent regeneration efficiency for the five cycles of successive adsorption–desorption. The results exposed that CMBPP could use as a prospective adsorbent material for the removal of RB5 from aqueous media.