Adsorption capacity and bioactivity of a novel mesoporous activated carbon (IIT Carbon) and bioactive (BAC(IIT)) catalyst produced from paper-mill sludge were evaluated. Conversion of paper mill sludge to useful activated carbons and biocatalysts is a significant process since it reduces environmental problems associated with disposal of waste sludge, enhances wastewater treatment using carbons produced from industrial waste itself, and promotes conservation of the naturally available primary resources currently used to make activated carbons. Analysis was conducted using synthetic wastewater containing phenol and a commercially available activated carbon, sorbonorite 4 (used as reference carbon). Phenol removal was accomplished in batch and fluidized bed reactors containing mesoporous activated carbon, sorbonorite 4, and the produced bioactive catalysts. Isotherm adsorption data indicated that mesoporous activated carbon has a higher adsorption capacity and molecular surface coverage than sorbonorite 4 for phenol concentrations less than 10 mg/l. The mass transfer limitation was accounted for the lower adsorption capacity of the microporous carbon (sorbonorite 4) in dilute solutions. The fluidized bed reactor study, however, indicated similar but slightly lower phenol removal capability for the produced mesoporous carbon. While phenol removal efficiency of the carbons studied was in the range 65-70%, the produced bioactive catalysts were able to remove up to 97% of phenol during first few hours of operation. These results suggest that mesoporous carbon will feasibly be a good substitute for other commercially available activated carbons produced from natural resources, not only in physical adsorption processes, but also in fluidized bed bioreactors (171313), used in biodegradation processes. (0 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.