Abstract: A process for the production of an open-cell carbon foam from a metallic salt of a lignosulfonate is described. The process includes heating the metallic salt of a lignosulfonate from ambient temperature to a maximum temperature, greater than about 250° C., at a rate sufficiently slow as to provide for essentially uniform heating of the lignin derived material. Heating of the lignin derived material is performed in a non-oxidizing atmosphere having a pressure greater than about 100 psig. The resultant carbon foam can subsequently be optionally subjected to carbonization or graphitization temperatures as desired. The resultant carbon foam has a regular open-cell structure. Densities of the carbon foam products are commonly in the range of about 0.1 g/cm3 to 0.2 g/cm3. The carbon foams may also exhibit compressive strengths of up to about 200 psi. The carbon foam materials potentially have utility as lightweight thermal barriers and in many other of the applications associated with carbon foams.