Abstract
This chapter discusses current practices and new developments in the preparation of activated carbons for the adsorption of pollutants. There is widespread pollution such as pharmaceuticals and heavy metals in global surface water that needs to be mitigated and carbon sorbents made for it can be part of the solution. Preparing carbons for such challenge requires tailoring carbon's structure and surface chemistry to maximise interaction with low concentrations (part per billion level) of a variety of pollutants. The preparation of effective carbon sorbents constitutes a technical challenge. This chapter explores treatments and analytical approaches for the preparation and development of modified carbons to remove water pollutants. Effective carbons will help to control global contamination problems but should not be the source of more pollution: carbon dioxide emissions during the production and maintenance of carbon sorbents are a concern.