Here, we describe an innovative ammoniation-activation method (AAM) to prepare activated carbon with enhanced porosity and functionality (acidity and basicity). Three ammoniating agents (i.e. NH3H2O, urea, and NH4HCO3) were employed to ammoniate the lignocellulosic precursors while H3PO4 was used as the activating agent. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis to characterize the ammoniation of precursors, and the produced carbons were characterized by N-2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, elemental analysis, Boehm's titration method, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that the BET surface area, pore volume and amount of functional groups of the carbon from the MM method (hereafter termed AAC) were higher than those obtained conventional methods (AC). Accordingly, the MC demonstrated >20% higher adsorptive capacity for iodine than that of AC. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.