Activated carbon of surface area 1100 m(2)/g was impregnated with 5 wt.% ruthenium chloride by using its aqueous solution. Obtained carbon was exposed to the vapors of diethyl sulphide at room temperature (30 +/- 1 degrees C). Thereafter, the reaction products were extracted in dichloromethane and analyzed using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The data revealed that, the impregnated carbon reacted with diethyl sulphide producing the diethyl sulphone. In addition to the above reaction product, residual reactant was also observed. Reaction mechanisms have also been proposed for these interesting surface reactions. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.