The invention relates to a preparation method for spherical active carbon with a hollow shell-core structure. The preparation method comprises the following steps: a) subjecting silicon balls obtained through a conventional emulsion balling method to placing in water, carrying out heating under stirring, successively adding a surfactant and asphalt particles in the process of stirring, carrying out liquid phase separation after a certain temperature is achieved, and carrying out drying so as to obtain a spherical asphalt/silicon composite material; b) subjecting the spherical asphalt/silicon composite material obtained in the above-mentioned step 1) to drying, then carrying out liquid phase carbonization treatment in an acid solution at normal temperature, and carrying out liquid phase separation so as to obtain a spherical carbon/silicon composite material; c) drying the above-mentioned spherical carbon/silicon composite material obtained in the above-mentioned step b), then placing the dried spherical carbon/silicon composite material in hydrofluoric acid at normal temperature and removing silicon so as to obtain hollow spherical carbon, then carrying out liquid phase separation and drying, and carrying out high-temperature carbonization treatment; d) subjecting the hollow spherical carbon obtained in the above-mentioned step c) to continuing high-temperature activation; and e) subjecting the hollow spherical carbon material obtained in the above-mentioned step d) to washing and drying so as to obtain active carbon with the hollow shell-core structure.