Abstract. Activated carbon samples were obtained from walnut shells by pyrolysis. Activated carbon samples were modified with polyvinyl alcohol to increase the sorption capacity and improve the textural characteristics. After modification, the sorbent samples had a specific surface area (SBET) of 980 m2/g, an average pore diameter (d,nm) of 1.8÷2.2 nm, a pore volume (Vs, cm3/g) of 0.85÷0.96 cm3/g, and an increase in the adsorption capacity for benzene vapors to 3.2 mmol/g. Pseudo-second-order kinetic adsorption of methylene blue dye onto modified carbon was studied. From the results obtained, it was determined that the equilibrium adsorption amount (qe) of the adsorbed dye was 0.32 mg/g, the rate constant was 0.021 g/mg min, and R2 = 0.882.