Abstract: A method of producing high grade activated carbon is introduced. The method entails providing soft wood biomass material pretreated to result in a mass of fermentation residual solids having a desired content of lignin. The material is pyrolyzed/carbonized in an inert environment at a temperature rate of 10° C./min up to an upper temperature range and held at the upper temperature range for up to one hour to produce char. Thereafter, the char is activated by changing the inert environment after about one hour at the upper temperature range to an oxidizing environment at a desired oxidizing gas flow rate for a predetermined time period. The environment is then switched back to an inert environment and allowed to cool until room temperature is reached so as to produce the activated high grade carbon. Applications for the material include but is not limited to: carbon electrodes in supercapacitors and mercury adsorbent material.