Abundant　pore　volume　and　appropriate　pore　configuration　are　two　crucial　characteristics　of　high-performance　carbonaceous　adsorbents　and　catalysts.　In　this　study,　influences　of　pre-treatments　(e.g.,　breaking,　sieving　and　ash　removal　by　acid)　and　activation　conditions　(e.g.,　activation　time)　on　pore　parameters　(including　BET　surface　area,　pore　diameter　and　pore　hierarchy　degree)　of　resultant　activated　carbon　were　systematically　investigated.　In　addition,　the　difference　between　conventional　carbonization-activation　(i.e.,　the　two-step　preparation　method)　and　one-step　activation　in　pore　development　of　activated　carbons　was　revealed.　The　sample　prepared　by　a　120-minute　one-step　activation　exhibited　a　BET　surface　area　high　to　1038.1　m2/g　and　a　pore　hierarchy　at　50.7　%.　Based　on　the　kinetics　analysis　using　TGA　reactor,　reaction　between　the　activator　(i.e.,　CO2)　and　carbon　matrix　was　found　enhanced　in　one-step　activation,　contributing　to　the　generation　of　mesopores.　Remarkably,　a　new　indicator,　Effective　Activation　Rate　(EAR)　was　proposed　to　accurately　describe　the　activation　rate　in　one-step　synthesis　after　decoupling　the　release　of　moisture　and　volatile　compounds.　The　above　conclusions　provide　guidance　for　flexibly　regulating　the　pore　configurations　of　activated　carbons　derived　from　natural　precursors.　©　2024　The　Korean　Society　of　Industrial　and　Engineering　Chemistry