In this work a series of coal-based active carbon (AC) catalysts, combined with metal oxides, were prepared by sol-gel method for carbon disulfide (CS2) hydrolysis and their performances for CS2 hydrolysis were investigated. The influences of preparing the conditions for catalytic activities were studied, namely, the kinds and amount of metal oxide, the calcination temperature, plus the types and content of alkalis. The results show that the optimum preparation conditions for the catalyst occurred with the addition of 5% ferric oxide (Fe2O3), iron (Fe): copper (Cu) (mole ratio) 5:1, and calcination temperature at 400 degrees C. It also indicated that the catalytic hydrolysis activity increased with the intensity of bases in the order of potassium hydroxide (KOH)-5% being the best amount, potassium carbonate (K2CO3), sodium carbonate (Na2CO3). Structure and surface properties were investigated by different methods. The XRD results reveal that calcination temperature controls the crystalline phase and the generation of Fe2O3. The BET results indicate that pores (1.5-3.0 nm) played an important role in the CS2 hydrolysis reaction. The XPS results show that most of CS2 hydrolysis products were sulfate ion (SO42-) species, which accumulated on the active carbon surface and had a negative effect on hydrolysis activity. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.