Abstract: Microporous pitch spheres prepared from pitch are oxidized at a temperature of from 100.degree. C to 500.degree. C in an atmosphere of an oxidative gas to produce pitch spheres containing not less than 10% by weight of combined oxygen. Then the combined oxygen-containing pitch spheres are heated at a temperature of from 150.degree. C to 700.degree. C in an atmosphere of ammonia gas to produce pitch spheres containing not less than 1.5% by weight combined nitrogen. The resultant pitch spheres are subsequently activated by a conventional method to produce activated carbon spheres containing more than 1% by weight of combined nitrogen.

Abstract: Discrete carbon microspheres having a particle diameter on the order of 1-20 .mu. are obtained by a process involving the steps of homogeneously mixing a pitch having a softening point of 70.degree. - 250.degree. C, a nitrobenzene-insoluble content of not more than 25% and an H/C ratio of 0.2- 1.0 with an aromatic solvent compatible with said pitch and dispersing the resultant mixture in an aqueous solution of a surface active agent with agitation and at a temperature to maintain the viscosity at 200-5000 cps to form microspheres of the pitch/solvent mixture. The dispersion is then cooled to solidify the microspheres. The microspheres 1-20 .mu. in diameter are then separated from the solution and from the finer particles and contacted an organic solvent which is incompatible with the pitch to extract the first-mentioned aromatic solvent from the microspheres.