Four activated carbons were prepared from corncob, acid hydrolysis residue, alkaline hydrolysis residue and China fir sawdust respectively with phosphoric acid activation under the same process condition. TG/DTG-DSC analysis revealed that the addition of phosphoric acid decreased the pyrolysis rate while increased the temperature and the yield. The findings showed that the acid and alkaline hydrolysis residue from corncob were both suitable to prepare high performance activated carbon. Moreover, different micropore volume, mesopore volume and mean pore width existed although activated carbons possessed the similar BET surface area and total pore volume. In addition, the liquid phase adsorption and pore properties of activated carbons were contrasted to show that the pore structure varied from one to another though with more or less the same iodine number, methylene blue adsorption and decolorization of caramel. Compared to China fir sawdust, activated carbons from corncob, acid hydrolysis residue and alkaline hydrolysis residue were easily made with a high decolorization of caramel. FTIR results suggested that four activated carbons were found with hydroxyl and phosphorus groups. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.