In　this　study,　waste　corrugated　paper　was　used　as　carbon　precursor　with　KOH-NaOH　mixture (mole　ratio　was　51:49　and　the　melting　point　is　170 °C)　as　activator　to　prepare　porous　carbon　at　different　reaction　temperature　and　different　mass　ratio　of　KOH-NaOH　mixture/waste　corrugate　paper　fiber.　The　micro-morphology,　pore　structure　information　and　composition　of　porous　carbon　were　analyzed,　and　the　formation　mechanism　of　pores　was　investigated.　The　effect　of　activator　amount　and　pyrolysis　temperature　on　the　morphology　and　structure　of　porous　carbon　were　studied.　The　adsorption　capacity　of　porous　carbon　was　evaluated　with　the　methylene　blue　as　model　pollutant.　The　effect　of　adsorbent　amount,　adsorption　time　and　temperature　on　the　adsorption　performance　of　the　porous　carbon　were　analyzed.　The　maximum　specific　surface　area　is　1493.30 m2·g−1　and　the　maximum　adsorption　capacity　of　methylene　blue　is　518 mg·g−1.　This　study　provides　a　new　idea　for　efficient　conversion　and　utilization　of　waste　paper.　Graphical　abstract:　[Figure　not　available:　see　fulltext.]　©　2023,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Korean　Carbon　Society.