Activated carbons are manufactured from coconut shell, peat, hard and soft wood, lignite coal, bituminous coal, olive pits and various specialty materials. Manufactured by chemical or high temperature steam activation, this highly porous adsorptive medium has a complex structure that is composed primarily of carbon atoms. Its network of pores within a rigid carbon skeleton consists of disordered layers of carbon atoms which are linked together by random chemical or carbon bonds.

Commercial activated carbon grades have an internal surface area of 500 up to 1500 m2/g. Related to the type of application, three major product groups exist: