Inexpensive porous activated biocarbons were prepared from biomass and agriculture waste following the method of thermal and hydrothermal carbonization and activation with superheated water vapor. The activated biocarbons were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption at 77 K, SEM, XRD, Raman spectrometry, FTIR spectroscopy, determination of particle size, and elemental composition by XRF. The specific surface area was in the range of 240-709 m²/g, and the total pore volume was from 0.12 to 0.43 cm³/g. The percentage of microporosity in activated biocarbons was 89-92%. These activated biocarbons have been used for CO₂ and heavy metal sorption. Activated biocarbons based on pine cones and birch prepared by thermal carbonization and activation with superheated water vapor had the highest ability to capture CO₂ and amounted to 6.43 and 6.00 mmol/g at 273 K, as well as 4.57 and 4.22 mmol/g at 298 K, respectively. The best activated biocarbon was characterized by unchanged stability after 30 adsorption and desorption cycles. It was proved that the adsorption of CO₂ depends on narrow micropores (<1 nm). Activated biocarbons have also been analyzed as effective adsorbents for removing Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, and Pb²⁺ ions from aqueous solutions. Activated biocarbons are effective adsorbents for the removal of lead and zinc ions from aqueous solutions.

Electrode materials were prepared from activated carbonizates of walnut shell, apricot pits and shungite rock from “Bakyrchik” deposit, East Kazakhstan. Physicochemical characteristics of the obtained samples were studied by the Brunauer-EmettTaylor method, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and other methods. Electrochemical properties of the obtained materials were studied by the method of cyclic voltammetry. It was found that the samples have an amorphous structure. Samples based on plant raw materials after hydrothermal carbonization at 240 °С during 24 h, have more homogeneous and developed surface. Specific surface area of carbon containing materials based on apricot pits is 1300 m2/g, for those on the based on mineral raw material, it is 153 m2/g. It was shown that materials after hydrothermal carbonization can be used for catalytic purposes and electrodes after thermal carbonization for analytical and electrocatalytic purposes.Electrode obtained by HTC have electrocatalytic activity. CSC 240 has high background current (slope i/Е is 43 mА V–1 cm–2), low potential of the hydrogen electroreduction (more positive by ~ 0.5 V than samples based on plant raw materials). The reaction of DA determination is more pronounced on the electrodes obtained by HTC 240 °C, 24 h, due to the nature, carbon structure and high specific surface area of obtained samples.

In this paper, new carbon containing materials based on products of shungite ore enrichment and carbonizates of plant raw materials were studied. The phase transformations occurring during the carbonization process were studied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to visualize the surface topography. It was established that supports based on plant raw materials have more developed and homogeneous surface. Specific surface area and porosity was studied by BET (Method of Brunauer-Emmet Taylor). It was found that supports based on plant raw materials have developed microporous surface (383–480 m2/g), with predominant micropores on the surface with dimensions of 1.8–2.5 nm. The mechanical strength of the obtained supports is higher than their industrial analogs and it equals 53–91%. Conversion of methylbutynol on active centers of supports was studied. Supports based on plant raw materials have basic active sites whereby they can be used in base catalysis. Supports based on carbon-mineral raw materials possess acid and basic active sites and they can be used to prepare bidirectional type action of catalysts. Conducted research have shown the possibility of using these materials as supports for creating carbon-metal catalyst systems.