A simple method of preparation of new high surface area spherical carbon adsorbents is presented. The phosphoric acid activation upon hydrothermally formed spherules was employed to produce carbons having controlled high specific surface area (over 2100 m(2)/g), large volumes of pores (1.2 cm(3)/g), and high acidity. Prepared from sucrose materials show high adsorption capacities (i.e. 220 mg/g(C)) toward paracetamol. It is proved that for these materials the contents of surface phosphorus are responsible for the reversibility of drug adsorption/release process. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.