Abstract: A method is for producing activated carbon. The method includes: a) mixing a carbonaceous precursor with chemically activating agents to obtain a feedstock mixture; b) producing activated carbon by heating the feedstock mixture under the atmosphere of a physically activating gas; and c) performing suitable post-activation treatment of the produced activated carbon. Step a) includes in sequence the sub-steps of: i. addition of a first chemically activating agent to obtain an impregnated precursor; and ii. addition of a second chemically activating agent to obtain the feedstock mixture. An activated carbon species is obtainable by the method. The activated carbon species may thus be tuned to have a pore size distribution optimized for use in a carbon electrode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a preparation method of a photocatalytic composite material, and relates to the field of catalyst technologies. The preparation method provided in the present invention includes the following steps: (1) subjecting plant leaves to soaking pretreatment to obtain template biomass; (2) mixing a molybdenum source-sulfur source aqueous solution with the template biomass obtained in step (1) and conducting impregnation to obtain a composite material precursor; and (3) calcining the composite material precursor obtained in step (2) to obtain the photocatalytic composite material. The photocatalytic composite material in the present invention includes acicular molybdenum sulfide and biomass carbon, the acicular molybdenum sulfide is loaded to a surface of the flake carbon, the mass content of the biomass carbon is 70% to 90%, and the mass content of the molybdenum sulfide is 10% to 30%.

Abstract: The present invention is a preparation method for asphalt-based spherical activated carbon which requires no infusibilization process. Placing coal tar asphalt into a melting device; introducing compressed air of 0.1 MPa-0.5 MPa into the device and stirring until a melting temperature of 280° C.-350° C. is reached; continuing for 2-8 hours until the base material has a softening point of 200° C.-260° C.; after cooling down, pulverizing the base material to obtain asphalt powder. Obtaining 34%-79% by mass of carbon powder, 1%-10% by mass of binder, and 20%-65% by mass of the asphalt powder and then forming spherical particles with a diameter of 0.5 mm-5 mm with the carbon powder, the binder and the asphalt powder at room temperature. Introducing the spherical particles of asphalt directly into an asphalt carbonization furnace for carbonization at a temperature of 600° C.-900° C. under protection of an inert gas to obtain asphalt spherical carbon.

Abstract: A method for producing an activated carbon material includes forming an aqueous mixture of a natural, non-lignocellulosic carbon precursor and an inorganic compound, heating the mixture in an inert or reducing atmosphere, cooling the heated mixture to form a first carbon material, and removing the inorganic compound to produce an activated carbon material. The activated carbon material is suitable to form improved carbon-based electrodes for use in high energy density devices.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing activated carbon from a particulate coal feedstock that include the introduction of a buffering gas, a moisture spray, a finest carbon fraction as a fuel, and certain gas ratios. Different methods and system configurations allow the production of activated carbon or other heat-treated carbons while concurrently avoiding adverse reaction conditions.

Abstract: A process for the production of low-temperature activated or partially activated partially decomposed organic matter for use as an ion-exchange medium comprising the steps of granulating partially decomposed moisture-bearing organic matter, drying the granules and activating the granules at a temperature of about 175-520° C., wherein the granule has a hardness and cation-exchange capacity suitable for a particular application desired.

Abstract: A method for producing an activated carbon material includes heating a non-lignocellulosic carbon precursor to form a carbon material and reacting the carbon material with steam to form an activated carbon material. The activated carbon material is suitable to form improved carbon-based electrodes for use in high energy density devices.

Abstract: A sorbent that is particularly effective for the efficient adsorption and subsequent desorption of ammonia is produced from a high-purity carbon material which is exposed to an oxidizing environment so as to produce an effective amount of at least one oxygen species on its exposed surfaces. The high purity carbon material may be produced by carbonizing a polymer material, and the sorbent may comprise a support having an open-cell, three dimensional, lattice-like structure.

Abstract: A method of preparing activated carbon, is disclosed, comprising: exposing carbonaceous material to microwave radiation in the presence of water to produce activated carbon.

Abstract: A method for producing a low oxygen content activated carbon material includes heating a natural, non-lignocellulosic carbon precursor in an inert or reducing atmosphere to form a first carbon material, mixing the first carbon material with an inorganic compound to form an aqueous mixture, heating the aqueous mixture in an inert or reducing atmosphere to incorporate the inorganic compound into the first carbon material, removing the inorganic compound from the first carbon material to produce a second carbon material, and heating the second carbon material in an inert or reducing atmosphere to form the low oxygen content activated carbon material. The activated carbon material is suitable to form improved carbon-based electrodes for use in high energy density devices.

Abstract: The methods for treatment using an adsorbent having a high adsorbability, and capable of adsorbing a large amount of toxins during a retention period in an intestine, and of remarkably increasing an adsorption amount of compounds having a large molecular weight.

Abstract: Provided is a hydrogen-storing carbon material with improved hydrogen storage capacity. The hydrogen-storing carbon material has a total pore volume of 0.5 cm3/g or more, and a ratio of a total mesoporous volume to a total microporous volume per unit weight of 5 or more. In addition, the hydrogen-storing carbon material may have a nitrogen content of 0.5 wt % or more and less than 20 wt %. In addition, the hydrogen-storing carbon material may have a stable potential of ?1.28 V or more when a cathode current with respect to the hydrogen-storing carbon material is held at 1,000 mA/g in electrochemical measurement by chronopotentiometry involving using the hydrogen-storing carbon material in a working electrode in a three-electrode method.

Abstract: An adsorbent for an oral administration, comprising a spherical activated carbon wherein an average particle diameter is 50 to 200 ?m, a specific surface area determined by a BET method is 700 m2/g or more, and a bulk density is less than 0.54 g/mL is disclosed. The adsorbent for an oral administration has a high adsorbability, and is capable of adsorbing a large amount of toxins during a retention period in an intestine, and of remarkably increasing an adsorption amount of compounds having a large molecular weight.

Abstract: A gas mixture preheated to high temperatures using an oxy-fuel, an oxygen-enriched air-fuel or an air-fuel burner is used to devolatilize and partially oxidize carbonaceous feedstock, thereby producing an active residual char that can be used in applications utilizing activated carbon. Use of hot gas and ground carbonaceous feedstock allows the equipment to be minimized, thereby allowing the activated carbon to be produced at or near points of use, for example the production of activated char at or near utility boilers for use in the reduction of mercury emissions from flue gas streams.

Abstract: A process for the production of low-temperature activated or partially activated partially decomposed organic matter for use as an ion-exchange medium comprising the steps of granulating partially decomposed moisture-bearing organic matter, drying the granules and activating the granules at a temperature of about 175-520° C., wherein the granule has a hardness and cation-exchange capacity suitable for a particular application desired.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing activated carbon, in particular spherical activated carbon, wherein particles are carbonized from an organic precursor substance, wherein the activated carbon obtained from the particles is shock-chilled after carbonization, the temperature gradient being more than 100 K/min.

Abstract: A method of making a filter material for producing potable water comprises providing activated carbon particles, depositing one or more nanofilament precursors at least partially onto the surface of the activated carbon particles, agitating the activated carbon particles and deposited nanofilament precursors in the presence of carbonaceous vapor, and heating the activated carbon particles and the deposited nanofilament precursors in the presence of carbonaceous vapor at a temperature and time sufficient to produce the filter material comprising activated carbon particles having carbon nanofilaments on the surface of the particles.

Abstract: Mesoporous activated carbon is disclosed. In at least some embodiments, virgin activated carbon to be processed may be coconut shell-based. The enhanced activated carbon may have a mesopore structure of at least about 10%. The enhanced activated carbon may be produced through a calcium-catalyzed activation process. A chelator may also be used. Catalyzed thermal activation may be carried out until a desired mass loss is achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing spherical activated carbon, wherein polymer globules, which comprise thermally decomposing chemical groups, are carbonized. It is characterized by that during the carbonization, a supplier of free radicals is added to the polymer globules, the supplier of free radicals forming free radicals, which are different from the free radicals that are generated by the decomposition of the chemical groups.

Abstract: A photocatalyst is provided that comprises activated carbon produced from date pits, impregnated with TiO2. The activated carbon can have a porous surface that can attract and trap pollutants flowing in air or water. The photocatalyst can be made by a method that includes preparing activated carbon by calcining date pits to form a precursor material, and then impregnating the precursor material with titanium dioxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing spherical activated carbon, wherein polymer globules, which comprise thermally decomposing chemical groups, are carbonized. It is characterized by that during the carbonization, a supplier of free radicals is added to the polymer globules, the supplier of free radicals forming free radicals, which are different from the free radicals that are generated by the decomposition of the chemical groups.

Abstract: A system and method for producing activated carbon comprising carbonizing a solid carbonaceous material in a carbonization zone of an activated carbon production apparatus (ACPA) to yield a carbonized product and carbonization product gases, the carbonization zone comprising carbonaceous material inlet, char outlet and carbonization gas outlet; activating the carbonized product via activation with steam in an activation zone of the ACPA to yield activated carbon and activation product gases, the activation zone comprising activated carbon outlet, activation gas outlet, and activation steam inlet; and utilizing process gas comprising at least a portion of the carbonization product gases or a combustion product thereof; at least a portion of the activation product gases or a combustion product thereof; or a combination thereof in a solid fuel boiler system that burns a solid fuel boiler feed with air to produce boiler-produced steam and flue gas, the boiler upstream of an air heater within a steam/electricity g

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for making activated carbon having BET surface area up to 2000 m2/g with pore diameter in the range 17-21 ? suitable for fabricating fuel cell and ultracapacitor electrode from coconut shell by treating carbon granules obtained from coconut shells with chemical activating agents like zinc chloride or potassium hydroxide at the room temperature range 500-800° C. in a dynamic flow of gases like N2 or CO2 for 6-24 h followed by a specific cooling pattern to room temperature. Use of such activated carbon enables the fabrication of high performance ultracapacitor electrodes in H2SO4 as exemplified by capacitance values like 180 F/g without the use of any normal metal additives such as RuO2 or IrO2.

Abstract: A vertical multi-stage fluidized bed apparatus including a plurality of horizontal perforated partitioning plates disposed therein so as to partition the apparatus is provided, wherein an upper horizontal perforated partitioning plate is set to have a larger aperture rate than a lower horizontal perforated partitioning plate. From a lower part of the apparatus, feed carbon and fluidizing gas are continuously supplied so as to provide a gas superficial velocity in the fluidized bed which is 2-4 times a minimum fluidizing velocity of the feed carbon, thereby subjecting the feed carbon to fluidization with the fluidizing gas and activation with steam at 750-950° C. simultaneously to discharge activated carbon continuously from an upper part of the apparatus. As a result, activated carbon of even a high degree of activation is produced at a high yield comparable to that obtained in a batchwise operation.

Abstract: A gas mixture preheated to high temperatures using an oxy-fuel, an oxygen-enriched air-fuel or an air-fuel burner is used to devolatilize and partially oxidize carbonaceous feedstock, thereby producing an active residual char that can be used in applications utilizing activated carbon. Use of hot gas and ground carbonaceous feedstock allows the equipment to be minimized, thereby allowing the activated carbon to be produced at or near points of use, for example the production of activated char at or near utility boilers for use in the reduction of mercury emissions from flue gas streams.

Abstract: The invention concerns high performance adsorbents based on activated carbon of high microporosity which are present in the form of discrete grains of activated carbon, preferably in spherical form, and which are characterized by the following parameters: a Gurvich total pore volume of at least 0.7 cm3/g, at least 70% of this total pore volume being formed by micropores having pore diameters of ?20 ?, a measure of central tendency pore diameter of not more than 30 ?, and a BET surface area of at least 1500 m2/g. These high performance adsorbents are particularly useful for the adsorption of toxins, noxiants and odors, in particular from gas or to be more precise air streams, for purifying or cleaning gases, such as in particular air, for application in medicine or to be more precise pharmacy and as sorptive storage media for gases, in particular hydrogen.

Abstract: A system and method for producing activated carbon comprising carbonizing a solid carbonaceous material in a carbonization zone of an activated carbon production apparatus (ACPA) to yield a carbonized product and carbonization product gases, the carbonization zone comprising carbonaceous material inlet, char outlet and carbonization gas outlet; activating the carbonized product via activation with steam in an activation zone of the ACPA to yield activated carbon and activation product gases, the activation zone comprising activated carbon outlet, activation gas outlet, and activation steam inlet; and utilizing process gas comprising at least a portion of the carbonization product gases or a combustion product thereof; at least a portion of the activation product gases or a combustion product thereof; or a combination thereof in a solid fuel boiler system that burns a solid fuel boiler feed with air to produce boiler-produced steam and flue gas, the boiler upstream of an air heater within a steam/electricity g

Abstract: A gas mixture preheated to high temperatures using an oxy-fuel, an oxygen-enriched air-fuel or an air-fuel burner is used to devolatilize and partially oxidize carbonaceous feedstock, thereby producing an active residual char that can be used in applications utilizing activated carbon. Use of hot gas and ground carbonaceous feedstock allows the equipment to be minimized, thereby allowing the activated carbon to be produced at or near points of use, for example the production of activated char at or near utility boilers for use in the reduction of mercury emissions from flue gas streams.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing granular, particularly spherical activated carbon by carbonization of suitable carbonaceous polymers in the form of polymer granules, in particular polymer spherules, as a starting material, which are convertible by carbonization into carbon at least essentially, wherein the polymer granules, in particular the polymer spherules, are continuously moved through a carbonization apparatus comprising a plurality of temperature zones and/or a temperature gradient so that an at least essentially complete conversion of the starting material to carbon is effected.

Abstract: Activated carbon adapted for electric double layer capacitors is provided, which capacitors can give a large power density per unit volume and which capacitors, even when charge-and-discharge cycle is repeated under a large current or a constant voltage is continuously applied for a long time, undergo less decrease in output density. In particular, the present invention relates to the activated carbon manufactured by carbonization of coconut shell, which has a BET specific surface area of 2000 m2/g to 2500 m2/g, an average pore diameter of 1.95 nm (19.5 ?) to 2.20 nm (22 ?) and a pore volume of pores having a pore diameter calculated according to a Cranston-Inkley method of 5.0 nm (50 ?) to 30.0 nm (300 ?), of 0.05 cm3/g to 0.15 cm3/g.

Abstract: A porous carbon characterized by a volumetric pore size distribution having two peaks, a first of said peaks being between 0.5 and 1.0 nm and a second of said peaks being between 1.0 and 5.0 nm. The porous carbon may have a volumetric capacitance in an organic electrolyte of at least 40 F/cm3, an average pore diameter between about 2 nm and about 30 nm, a surface area of at least 900 m2/g, and/or a density of at least 0.4 g/cm3. A method for making such a carbon includes a) curing a mixture comprising a carbohydrate, a dehydrating component, and a nonmetallic cationic pore-forming agent and b) carbonizing the cured carbon under conditions effective to provide a porous carbon having a surface area between about 100 m2/g and about 3000 m2/g. The the dehydrating component and nonmetallic cationic component may comprise two moieties of one compound.

Abstract: Activated carbons may be produced by carbonization of poultry manure, followed by activation of carbonized manure. Carbons produced from poultry manure by the method described herein exhibit enhanced activity for metal ion adsorption.

Abstract: Disclosure is made of a specific process for producing activated carbon in spherical form, starting with organic polymer spherules based on styrene and divinylbenzene, wherein said polymer spherules contain chemical groups leading to the formation of free radicals and thus to cross-linkages by their thermal decomposition, in particular sulfonic acid groups. Furthermore, various application purposes for the thus-produced activated carbon spherules are named.

Abstract: A method of producing activated carbon comprising the steps of a) pyrolysing corn derivatives to generate char and b) activating the char to produce activated corn carbon.

Abstract: A method for removing mercury and mercury-containing compounds from a combustion gas in an exhaust gas system has the steps of providing a mercury sorbent; injecting the mercury sorbent into a stream of the mercury-containing combustion gas for a sufficient time to allow at least an effective amount of the mercury and mercury-containing compounds in the combustion gas to adsorb onto the mercury sorbent, and collecting and removing the mercury sorbent from the combustion gas stream. The mercury sorbent is prepared by treating a carbonaceous substrate with an effective amount of a bromine-containing gas, especially one containing elemental bromine or hydrogen bromide, for a time sufficient to increase the ability of the carbonaceous substrate to adsorb mercury and mercury-containing compounds. The points of injecting and collecting and removing the mercury sorbent may be varied, depending upon the exact configuration of the exhaust gas system.

Abstract: The invention can be summarized as follows. There is provided a method of producing activated carbon comprising the steps of a) pyrolysing corn derivatives to generate char and b) activating the char to produce activated corn carbon. Also provided are activated corn carbon products and methods employing the activated corn carbon.

Abstract: Proposed is a process for producing active carbon with increased catalytic activity, wherein the process starts from an active carbon substrate which in particular is an active carbon substrate based on a carbon-bearing cokable raw material, and includes heating of the active carbon substrate to the activation temperature by contacting it with a reaction gas mixture and cooling of the active carbon substrate which is activated in that way.

Abstract: The present invention provides an activated carbon produced by a process, which includes: activating a carbonaceous material, to obtain an activated carbonaceous material; and contacting the activated carbonaceous material with an acid. Another embodiment of the present invention provides an electrode for an electric double-layer capacitor, which includes the above-described activated carbon. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a filter, which includes the above-described activated carbon. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a shaped article, which includes the above-described activated carbon. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for producing activated carbon, which includes activating a carbonaceous material, to obtain an activated carbonaceous material; and contacting the activated carbonaceous material with an acid, to obtain the activated carbon.

Abstract: Mixed matrix membranes capable of separating carbon dioxide from mixtures including carbon dioxide and methane, and processes for purifying methane using the membranes, are disclosed. The membranes are preferably polymer membranes, that include discrete carbon-based molecular sieve particles with sizes of between about 0.5 microns to about 5.0 microns. The particles are formed by pyrolyzing a precursor polymer in the form of a powder or film. The pyrolyzed polymer is then ideally milled to desired small size particles. The preferred ratio of particles to polymer is about 0.25 to about 1.0 by volume. A preferred method for preparing the mixed matrix membrane is by dispersing the particles in a solvent, adding a small quantity of the desired polymer or “sizing agent” to “size” or “prime” the particles, adding a polymer, casting a film of the polymer solution, and evaporating the solvent to form a mixed matrix membrane film.

Abstract: A process for removing vapor phase contaminants from a gas stream includes the step of adding a raw carbonaceous starting material into a gas stream having an activation temperature sufficient to convert the raw carbonaceous starting material into an activated material in-situ. The raw carbonaceous starting material can be either a solid-phase, liquid phase or vapor-phase material. The activated material then adsorbs the vapor phase contaminants, and the activation material containing the vapor phase contaminants is removed from the gas stream using a particulate collection device. The process is particularly suited for the removal of vapor phase air toxics, such as mercury, from the flue gas of a combustion process. An apparatus for the removal of vapor phase contaminants from a gas stream is also described.

Abstract: A method of making carbon foam is described which involves pyrolizing a mixture containing at least one pyrolizable substance and at least one unpyrolizable material and then removing the unpyrolizable material to obtain the carbon foam. Carbon foam made by this process is also described. Incorporating the carbon foam in a variety of end use applications including electrodes, thermal insulation material, polymers, and the like is also described.

Abstract: A halogen treatment is conducted comprising: a halogenation step wherein a halogenation heat treatment for preparing a halogenated carbonized charcoal is conducted in which the carbonized charcoal is brought into contact with halogen; and a dehalogenation step wherein a dehalogenation treatment is conducted in which a part of or all halogen atoms in the halogenated carbonized charcoal are eliminated. A porous carbonaceous material is obtained at a high yield, and the amounts of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and methane adsorbed by this porous carbonaceous material are large. When this porous carbonaceous material is used as an electrical double layer capacitor carbon, the electrostatic capacity is increased compared to conventional carbonaceous materials. Consequently, a carbonaceous material is obtained which has micopores and/or sub-micropores which are suitable for the adsorption of small molecules such as nitrogen, and for storage of electrochemical energy.

Abstract: This invention relates to a technique for removing nitrogen oxides (NOx) present in exhaust gases discharged from boilers and the like. When the temperature of the exhaust gas is 100° C. or below, a heat-treated active carbon produced by heat-treating a raw active carbon at 600 to 1,200° C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere so as to remove oxygen-containing functional groups present at the surfaces thereof and thereby reduce the atomic surface oxygen/surface carbon ratio to 0.05 or less is preferably used. When the temperature of the exhaust gas exceeds 100° C., a heat-treated active carbon produced by heat-treating a raw active carbon at 600. to 1,200° C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere and activating the surfaces thereof with sulfuric acid or nitric acid to impart oxidizing oxygen-containing functional groups thereto is preferably used.

Abstract: A process for removing vapor phase contaminants from a gas stream includes the step of adding a raw carbonaceous starting material into a gas stream having an activation temperature sufficient to convert the raw carbonaceous starting material into an activated material in-situ. The activated material then adsorbs the vapor phase contaminants, and the activation material containing the vapor phase contaminants is removed from the gas stream using a particulate collection device. The process is particularly suited for the removal of vapor phase air toxics, such as mercury, from the flue gas of a combustion process. An apparatus for the removal of vapor phase contaminants from a gas stream is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of shaped high-performance adsorbents by steam activation in a rotary tunnel kiln operating in batches, in which spherically pre-formed materials are carefully pre-dried in a rotary tunnel dryer with 4-fold product turnover per kiln rotation and with a space/time ratio of from 1 to 2.5 m3/h using hot gas, then carbonised in an indirectly heated rotary tunnel kiln with 6-fold product turnover per kiln rotation and with a space/time ratio of from 5 to 10 m3/h in an inert-gas flow, and the carbonised semi-finished articles are activated in batches in an indirectly heated rotary tunnel kiln with 8-fold product turnover per kiln rotation and with a space/time ratio of from 1 to 5 m3/h with the addition of steam in an inert-gas flow. High-quality shaped high-performance adsorbents are obtained which are versatile and especially suitable for use in air separation, adsorptive cooling and as adsorbent components in textiles and synthetic fabrics.

Abstract: Purified carbon black carried by a screw conveyer, while being subject to preheating treatment, is transported to a microwave heating zone where it is heated to a temperature between 250° C. and 400° C. and subsequently, it is sent into a flow-type steam activation furnace there under the passage of steam and at a temperature inside the furnace maintained at 700° C. to 900° C. the carbon black is heated and activated to form a powdery activated carbon. This novel method for the production of activated carbon with high added value from carbon black is a continuous process of high productivity especially suitable for carbon black recovered from the heating and splitting decomposition processes of waste tires, waste plastics and the like.

Abstract: A granular active carbon for natural-gas occlusion is disclosed which can occlude natural gas at a relatively low pressure and has a high natural-gas occlusion capacity. The granular active carbon for natural-gas occlusion has first and second pores for the occlusion of constituent gas molecules of natural gas. The first pores each has a diameter d1, satisfying 2d<d1≦2.5d, while the second pores each has a diameter d2 satisfying 5d<d2≦6d, wherein d is the diameter of the constituent gas molecules.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of shaped activated carbon by steam activation in an continuously operating rotary tunnel kiln, by continuously drying spherically preformed raw materials in a rotary tunnel dryer with 6-fold product turnover per kiln rotation, with a product temperature of from 250 to 300° C. in the 50 to 80% kiln length range and a residence time of from 30 to 6O minutes by means of a hot gas in countercurrent, then, in an indirectly heated rotary tunnel kiln, which is subdivided into a carbonising zone and activating zone, continuously carbonising the material with 8-fold product turnover per kiln rotation and with a product temperature profile in the carbonising zone of from 850 to 900° C. and a residence time of from 120 to 180 minutes, and activating the material with a product temperature profile in the activating zone of from 910 to 920° C. and a residence time of from 480 to 720 minutes with the addition of steam in an inert-gas flow.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a carbon material having an immersion heat ratio (&Dgr;Hin/&Dgr;Hih) defined by formula (1), and a nonaqueous electrolyte:

Abstract: Mesoporous carbon and method of making involves forming a mixture of a high carbon-yielding carbon precursor that when carbonized yields greater than about 40% carbon on a cured basis, and an additive that can be catalyst metal and/or low carbon-yielding carbon precursor that when carbonized yields no greater than about 40% by weight carbon on a cured basis. When a catalyst metal is used, the amount of catalyst metal after the subsequent carbonization step is no greater than about 1 wt. % based on the carbon. The mixture is cured, and the carbon precursors are carbonized and activated to produce mesoporous activated carbon.