Abstract:　In　this　work,　a　nitrogen-doped　activated　mesoporous　carbon　aerogel　(NAMC)　for　the　removal　of　methyl　orange　from　aqueous　solution　was　prepared　through　carbonization　and　pickling　using　the　chitosan　and　poly(vinyl　alcohol)　as　the　carbon　source　and　AlCl　3　·6H　2　O　as　both　the　solvent　for　chitosan　and　the　hard　template　for　porous　structure.　The　morphology　and　structural　properties　were　characterized　by　N　2　adsorption–desorption　isotherms,　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM),　X-ray　diffraction　measurement,　and　Raman　spectroscopy,　respectively.　The　effects　of　pickling　time　and　initial　aqueous　concentration　on　the　adsorption　were　investigated.　The　SEM　results　showed　that　the　pickling　caused　NAMC　to　have　the　porous　structure　and　thus　improved　the　adsorption　of　NAMC　for　MO.　The　adsorption　kinetics　was　studied　by　the　pseudo　first-order,　pseudo　second-order　and　intra-particle　diffusion　rate　models,　respectively.　This　work　provides　a　practical　utilization　route　for　chitosan.　Graphical　abstract:　[Figure　not　available:　see　fulltext.].　©　2019,　Springer　Nature　B.V.