Microspherical synthetic carbons have been prepared from copolymer of 4,4'-bis(maleimidodiphenyl)methane and divinylbenzene using carbonization, chemical activation and arc discharge argon plasma treatment. Synthetic carbons have been characterized by elemental analysis, adsorption of acid and base and adsorption of nitrogen at 77 K. It has been shown that carbon obtained by carbonization in inert atmosphere at high temperature shows basic character, while phosphoric acid activated carbons are acid. Synthetic carbons obtained at high temperature are predominantly microporous (up to 86% of total pore volume), while plasma treated samples are mostly mesoporous (up to 97% of total pore volume). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.