Abstract: Activated carbon was prepared from cotton stalk by chemical activation with potassium hydroxide under different operation conditions. The influences of operation parameters on the properties of activated carbon were discussed. The experiment results showed that the optimum conditions were as followed: pyrogenation temperature of 450-500 ℃, alkali/charcoal ratio of 1.0, activation temperature of 800 ℃, and the activation time of 120 minutes. The properties of the activated carbon prepared under the optimum conditions were as follows:relative surface area of 2 312 m²/g, iodine adsorption capability of 1 936 mg/g, and methylene blue adsorption capability of 392 mg/g. Pore distribution of this activated carbon product is micro-pores. Chemical groups such as —OH and —H were also characterized on the surface of AC by FT-IR.

Key words: activated carbon, potassium hydroxide, cotton stalk