This article provides an overview of regeneration methods for activated carbon (AC) adsorbents saturated with toxic and biorefractoty organics, with special emphasis on catalytic regeneration methods which were suggested recently. The latter use either separate desorption of the compounds followed by catalytic liquid-phase oxidation, or direct oxidation of the adsorbed species on an AC adsorbent modified with a catalyst. In the former approach, the water is not contacted with the catalyst and metal dissolution is not problem but desorption may not occur at low temperatures. Basic trends, the limitation encountered in these processes and the potential for improvement are assessed.