Abstract: Activated carbons were prepared from walnut shell bio-oil distillation residues using the KOH activation method. Two factors which have an impact on the pore structure of the activated carbon were investigated, (i) carbonization temperature and (ii) heating rate. The carbon precursors and activated carbons were characterized by FTIR, XRD and SEM. Results showed that carbonization temperature and heating rate both affect the micro-crystalline size and surface functional groups which play a decisive role in the activation process. The activated carbon prepared from walnut shell bio-oil distillation residues treated with a 10℃/min heating rate to 400℃, where they were held for 2 h and then activated with KOH (3:1), has the highest specific surface area (2 056 m²/g)。Its iodine adsorption capacity is 1891 mg/g and its adsorption capacity of methylene blue is 407 mg/g. This study confirmed that the walnut shell bio-oil distillation residue can be used as a raw material for the preparation of activated carbon and provides a new way of using bio-oil distillation residues.