A nonporous carbon-based sorbent was obtained by partial carbonization of sucrose utilizing the dehydration effect of concentrated sulfuric acid. The BET specific surface area of the reported sorbent only is 0.6 m(2) g(-1), but it exhibits excellent adsorbability. Differently from active carbon, oxygen groups, such as hydroxy groups and carboxyl groups, are main active adsorption sites of the reported sorbent.