Abstract: The effects of the charcoals containing the different volatiles on the yield and adsorptive capacity of activated carboa were disoussed. The optimum carbonization conditions of activated carbon prepared from almond shells were investigated. The activating products could be used as the catalyst support for vinyl acetate synthesis. The result of experiments showed that the qualified activated carbon could be produced with pyrolyzing charcoal completely. The higher the content of volatiles of charcoal, the better the adsorptive capacity of activated carbon. But the yield of activated carbon (based on dry almond shells) was independent on the content of volatiles of charcoal. The optimum activation conditions were as follows; temperature 850℃ , time 4 hours, the amount of steam 1, 50 ml H2O ?g-1 charcoal.