This paper reports the results of carbonization of synthetic copolymers 4,4'-diphenyl sulfone dimethacrylate (DPS DM) in the presence of iron salts as catalysts. The obtained carbon adsorbents have a spherical shape of grains, high specific surface area and good sorption and mechanical properties. Part of the obtained synthetic carbons was subjected to additional modification, i.e. high temperature (873-1073 K) treatment, activation with steam (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). In some activation processes calcium salts as catalyst was used. The porous texture of the obtained carbons was characterized by N-2 adsorption at 77 K. The specific surface area S-BET, total volume of pore V-p, volume of micro-pore V-mic, average dimension of pores (R [nm]) were calculated by the BET, BJH and Langmuira method. The micro-pore volume (V-mic), total surface area (S-t) and specific surface of mezo-pores (S-me) were calculated also using the alpha(s) method. Both the obtained results, i.e. calculated from nitrogen adsorption and by alpha(s) method have been compared in our paper. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.