Porous carbon microspheres with good morphology, high yield, and controllable particle size were prepared from phenolic resin. The particle size and pore structure of the carbon microspheres were mainly inherited from their precursors, resol microspheres, which were made through curing emulsified resol in water at 120 degrees C under saturated pressure. The average particle size and specific surface area of the porous carbon microspheres was related to the concentration of resol and polyvinyl alcohol along with the heating program. The carbonization yield to 700 degrees C was 55 wt %. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, lnc.