Abstract: Process of recovering a hydrophobic organic compound(s) by contacting a chemically activated shaped carbon with a hydrophobic organic compound to repeatedly absorb and desorb the compound, thereby recovering the same. The activated carbon is such that it has a bulk density of 0.25 to 0.6 g/cm.sup.3, a pore volume of 0.65 to 1.2 cm.sup.3 /g, a bulk density.times.pore volume of 0.25 to 0.4 cm.sup.3 /cm.sup.3, a surface area of at least 1000 m.sup.2 /g, a mean pore size of 18 to 35 angstroms, a bulk density.times.surface area of at least 400 m.sup.2 /cm.sup.3, and which chemically activated carbon effectively adsorbs butane in an amount of 8.0 to 15 g/100 ml. The process is especially suitable for absorbing gasoline vapor in an automobile exhaust and releasing the absorbed gasoline for reuse in the operation of the engine.

Abstract: A chemically activated shaped carbon suitable for adsorbing and desorbing hydrophobic organic compounds and having the specific properties in bulk density, pore volume, bulk density x pore volume, surface area, bulk density x surface area, mean pore size and the effective amount of adsorption of butane, a process for producing thereof and use thereof.

Abstract: A process for producing activated fibrous carbon comprises carbonizing and activating vegetable fibers in the presence of at least a member selected from the group consisting of ammonium salts of inorganic acids, nitric acid and boric acid and zinc chloride of about 5 to 80 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the vegetable fibers. The process increases remarkably a yield of activated fibrous carbon and therefore permits the supply of activated fibrous carbon at by far reduced costs as compared with the conventional process, and the resulting activated carbon shows superior adsorption capability and flexibility.