In this study, activated mesocarbon microbeads (AMCMBs) with high mesopore content were prepared from the chemical activation of mesocarbon microbeads (MCMBs) with KOH. The resulting activated mesocarbon microbeads possess well-developed pore structure. The maximum value of the total pore volume is 2.45 cm(3)/g, and BET surface area can reach 3182 m(2)/g. Especially, the resulting mesoporous activated microbeads also have mesopore content ranging from 56.1% to 65.7%. It can be seen from the isotherms of N-2 at -196 degreesC that the resulting activated mesocarbon microbeads have high adsorption capacity. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.