An investigation was performed for the regeneration of durian shell and jackfruit peel activated carbons loaded with methylene blue dye (MB). The exhausted carbons were treated in a modified conventional microwave oven operated at 2.45 GHz and irradiation time of 3 and 4 min. The efficacy of the regeneration study was analyzed by determining the carbon yield and amount of MB adsorbed in successive adsorption-regeneration cycles. The virgin properties of the original and regenerated activated carbons were characterized by pore structural analysis, nitrogen adsorption isotherm, surface acidity/basicity and zeta potential measurement. Equilibrium data were simulated using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. The adsorption uptake and carbon yield of the regenerated activated carbons could maintain at 181.43-207.57 mg/g and 80.51-81.63%, even after five adsorption-regeneration cycles. Microwave heating preserved the porous structure of the exhausted activated carbons efficiently to restore the original active sites and adsorption capacity. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights