Xylites are promising materials for activated carbon manufacturing due to their low rank, low inorganic content, and structural characteristics similar to the strong consistence of wood. These are similar to the classical adsorbents used for waste water purification, and available and profitable in the long term. This study has been undertaken to provide by means of petrographic data, new information on the porous structure development in chars during direct heating carbonization and physical activation. The xylite petrographic composition is very important, mainly due to the existence of structured wooden material - textinite with round and elongated cells - that influences the development of the structure and texture during carbonization and activation. The charcoal microstructure reveals some interesting aspects about the carbonization process with regard to evolution, efficiency and pore development. In the xylite activated carbon, the adsorption surface development by means of the highly porous system depends on the type of petrographical components, raw material grain size, and carbonization parameters. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.