Abstract: Activated carbons were prepared from bamboo by phosphoric acid activation. Samples were characterized by N₂ adsorption, Boehm titration, gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The adsorption capacity，specific surface area, pore structure, surface functional groups and microstructure of the bamboo-based activated carbon were compared with those of coconut shell-based activated carbon prepared by steam activation．Results showed that both activated carbons had almost similar acetate adsorption capacities, specific surface area and pore structure．Besides, the bamboo-based activated carbon had many more carboxyl, phenolic hydroxyl—COO^-、—OH^- 和P=O、 P—O—C andP=OOH groups than the coconut shell-based activated carbon.