Cherry stones were used as a precursor for the preparation of activated carbons by physical and chemical activation with CO2 and KOH, respectively. The effect of pyrolysis temperature (500 and 800 degrees C) and activation method on the acid-base character of the surface, textural parameters as well as sorption properties of adsorbents prepared toward gas and liquid impurities was tested. Depending on the method of preparation, the final products were microporous activated carbons of surface area ranging from 361 to 1173 m(2)/g and pore volume from 0.21 to 0.74 cm(3)/g, with very diverse acid-base character of the surface. The results obtained in our study proved that a proper choice of cherry stone pyrolysis and activation procedure can produce adsorbents with high capacity for nitrogen dioxide as well as different contaminants from the liquid phase. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.