Abstract Activated carbons are widely used in different industrial processes for example as adsorbents or as support materials. Advantageously these carbons can be prepared from residual or waste biomass materials. Different raw material type and activation procedure plays an important role in the physico-chemical characteristics of activated carbon e.g. surface area, porosity and pore distribution. In this study, activated carbon has been prepared from lignocellulosic waste materials (e.g. saw dust, lignin residue) and characterized by a number of methods. Further, adsorption properties of carbons were evaluated. Adsorption capacity of dyes and metals was high (methylene blue dye 86 % and zinc metal 97 % removal) onto prepared activated carbons.