The preparation of activated carbon from wood-based industry's residue is one of the most environmental friendly solutions of transforming negative-valued wastes to valuable materials. Wood sawdust was first chemically activated using potassium hydroxide, KOH and characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms measured in Micrometrices ASAP 2020 and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM). By manipulating three different parameters, the optimal activation conditions were found at temperature of 500°C, activation time of 60 min and impregnation ratio of 1:3. Results showed that the BET surface area, total pore volume and diameter of activated carbon were 1876.16 m2 g-1, 0.88 cm3 g-1 and 6.93 nm, respectively. Nitrogen adsorption desorption isotherm analysis proved the existence of mesopores in activated carbon produced, suggesting that it can be effectively used as an adsorption material. © (2014) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.