In this work, pomelo skin, an industrial effluent abundantly available from the fruit juice processing plants, was utilized as a feedstock for preparation of activated carbon (PSAC) via microwave induced NaOH activation. The activation process was performed at the input power of 800 W and irradiation time of 5 min. The porosity, functional and surface chemistry were featured by means of low temperature nitrogen adsorption, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and evaluation of surface acidity/basicity. The adsorptive property of PSAC was tested using methylene blue and acid blue 15 dyes as the model adsorbates. Equilibrium data was examined using a comparison of linear and non-linear isotherm models. The adsorption behavior was well described by the non-linear Langmuir isotherm model, showing a monolayer adsorption capacity for methylene blue and acid blue 15 of 501.10 mg/g and 444.45 mg/g, respectively. The findings revealed the potential use of pomelo skin derived activated carbon for removal of cationic and anionic dyes. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.