Activated carbon (AC) was prepared from papaya leaf petiole (PLP) using physical (PLPC), chemical (ZnCl2, ZPLPC) and microwave (MWPLPC) activation methods. The synthesized AC’s were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic technique (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis & differential thermal analysis (TGA-DTA). XRD pattern of PLPC, Z PLPC & MW PLPC shows both crystalline and amorphous peaks. Dissimilar size of pores and other adsorption sites were observed in FE-SEM image of the three AC. The surface functional groups were detected using FT-IR spectrometer. TGA- DTA instrument was used to analysis of thermal decomposition of PLP, PLPC, Z PLPC & MW PLPC. Adsorption of acetic acid (AA) on synthesized three AC were studied. Langmuir adsorption isotherm holds good for the present adsorption process. The mechanism of adsorption followed the second order kinetics. Thermodynamic parameters like change in enthalpy, entropy and free energy were calculated.