Metal-loaded activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were prepared by impregnation and characterized by NZ adsorption at 77K, XRD, XPS and SEM. Their properties on SO2 removal were examined in a tubular fixed bed reactor with a model flue gas. Cobalt-loaded ACF showed the best activity among the prepared metal-loaded ACFs and a constant removal ratio of SO2 above 87% during continuous exposure to the flow of SO2/O-2/H2O/NZ at 45 degrees C for more than 216h. The characteristic of the prepared loaded-ACFs showed that the exceptional activity of Co-ACF was attributed to the high amount of active sites due to modification by loading cobalt.