Nitrogen-containing activated carbon (NAC) derived from ammonium humates was produced and its porous structure (specific surface, pore volume) investigated. The NAC is mesoporous activated carbon with surface area of 557 m(2)/g and containing 2.4 wt.% of nitrogen. Sorption characteristics (sorption activity of iodine, methylene blue, benzene and metal ions Cu(2+) and Pb(2+)) of NAC are compared with activated charcoal and BAU-A. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.