Abstract: The effect of metal oxides (Ni2O3, Fe2O3 etc.) on the porous structure and adsorption capacity of activated carbons from Taixi anthracite and Datong bituminous macerals has been investigated. Results indicate that the rate of the water activation reaction of macerals separated from Taixi anthracite was enhanced by adding metal oxides. Some of metal oxides can improve the adsorption properties of activated carbons prepared from macerals separated from Taixi anthracite. Metal oxides have little effect on the adsorption properties of activated carbons from macerals separated from Datong bituminous coal, because the reactivity of Datong bituminous coal is higher than that of Taixi anthracite. The mechanism of enhanced activation reaction rate is due to a catalytic reaction, which may be ascribed to the increase of the active sites produced by metal oxides. The adsorption properties of the resultant activated carbons are mainly dependent on the properties of the metal oxides and macerals.