This paper deals with the synthesis of new anthracene oil-based activated carbons by chemical activation with KOH. It focuses on the optimization of the processing conditions involved by means of surface response methodology. A factorial design (2(3)+3) in one block with four degrees of freedom was used to optimize the process, based on the responses BET surface area, total pore volume, mesopore volume, micropore volume and mol ratio CO:CO2. The variables measured include KOH to pitch ratio (1:1, 3:1 and 5:1), activation temperature (700 up to 1000 degrees C) and pitch characteristics. The activation of anthracene oil-based pitch led to activated carbons with BET surface area values of 2880 m(2) g(-1). The factorial design expresses every response factor as a mathematical equation using the experimental variables. The most critical factor for each experiment design response has been identified from the analysis of variance (ANOVA). These mathematical models were also used to obtain the optimum processing conditions for the production of activated carbon with controlled properties. The experimental processing of the optimized activated carbons gave rise to a sample with BET, total pore volume, mesopore volume, micropore volume values which were in good agreement with those predicted by statistical analysis. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.