Abstract: Provided is a method for producing an activated carbon with which calcination and molding can be homogeneously performed and an activated carbon of stable quality can be produced. The method includes a plasticizing and densifying step of plasticizing and densifying a mixture of a wooden material and a phosphoric acid compound in a single-screw or twin-screw extruder-kneader under pressurizing and heating conditions until the loss on heating at 140° C. for 30 minutes becomes between 10 mass % and 25 mass %, exclusive, to thereby obtain a carbonaceous material; an adjustment step of heat-treating the carbonaceous material after the plasticizing and densifying step until the loss on heating at 140° C. for 30 minutes becomes between 3 mass % and 12 mass %, exclusive; and an activation treatment step of activating the carbonaceous material after the plasticizing and densifying step under heating conditions at a temperature between 400° C. and 600° C., inclusive.

Abstract: A double layer capacitor with electrodes produced from a carbonaceous material having a large capacitance obtained by heat-treating an activated carbon precursor at a temperature below 700.degree. C., preferably from 400.degree. to 500.degree. C., in an alkali metal hydroxide bath. In particular, its capacitance per unit volume is several times larger, in some cases 7 or more times larger, as compared with conventional activated carbons for capacitors.

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.