Activated carbons were prepared through chemical activation of lignin from straw pulping precursor using potassium carbonate as the chemical agent. Effects of activated temperature, K2CO3/lignin ratio and the activated time on the yield, Iodine number of activated carbon were investigated. Experimental results indicated that the optimum conditions were as follow: activated temperature 800°C, K3CO3(40% concentration) /lignin ratio 5: l, activated time 50min. These conditions allowed us to obtain a BET surface area of 1104 m2/g, including the external or non-microporous surface of 417 m2/g,Amount of methylene blue adsorption, Iodine number and the yield of activated carbon prepared under optimum conditions were 10.6mL/0.lg,1310 mg/g and 19.75%, respectively.