Hollow　carbon　spheres　(HCSs)　were　successfully　prepared　by　direct　pyrolysis　of　coal-tar　pitch　in　the　presence　of　aluminum　isopropoxide.　Pyrolysis　behavior　of　the　mixture　of　coal-tar　pitch　and　aluminum　isopropoxide　was　investigated　by　thermogravimetric　analysis　(TGA),　Fourier　transform　infrared　spectroscopy　(FTIR)　and　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD).　In　addition,　morphologies　and　microstructures　of　the　HCSs　were　studied　using　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM)　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM),　respectively.　Results　show　that　the　development　of　HCSs　undergoes　both　the　formation　of　foam　structure　and　its　separation　under　the　action　of　the　carbon-thermal　reaction　between　Al2O3　and　carbons.　The　HCSs　prepared　have　an　average　diameter　of　2　μm　and　possess　a　rough　surface　with　fluffy　ultrathin　wall　mesoporous　carbons.　In　addition,　they　exhibit　excellent　adsorption　properties　for　the　removal　of　malachite　green.　©　2018　Elsevier　B.V.