The surface properties of activated carbons (AC) play a significant ro
le when these materials are used for adsorption from liquid phases or
as supports For catalysts. Different ways to describe the chemistry of
carbon surfaces are considered: (1) according to the concept of chemi
cal groups as developed in organic chemistry (XPS of AC is illustrated
by nitrogen functions); (ii) by active surface area and polar surface
area. No single method is able to give a quantitative description of
the surface chemistry of a carbon material. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science
Ltd. All rights reserved.