A kind of microfibrous entrapped activated carbon composites were prepared by the wet lay-up paper-making process followed by sintering in N-2 at 950 degrees C for 30 min. SEM and ASAP 2020 apparatus were used to characterize the structure and test the adsorption isotherm. SEM results indicated that the junctures of the ceramic fiber were completely welded together to cause a sinter-locked three-dimensional network, thereby entrapping micron-sized activated carbon. The porous structure was analyzed with BET equations, H-K equation and BJH theory. Results showed that the specific surface area was 428 m(2)/g, the total pore volume was 0.217 m(3)/g, the total micropore volume was 0.0935 m(3)/g which was 43.1% of the total pore volume, the mesopore volume was 40.9% and the macropore volume was 16.0%. Compared between microfibrous composite and primary activated carbon, the surface areas and the pore structure were almost the same, but the pore volumes all decreased. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.