Chemically activated carbons were prepared from the rind and pith fractions of a sugar cane separator. Similar samples were made from sugar cane bagasse and bagacillo. Phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid, zinc chloride and calcium chloride were the chemical activating agents. Reactants were pyrolised at 500 degrees C in an inert nitrogen atmosphere. Yields of activated carbon and the recovery of the chemicals for recycling were determined. Decolourisation tests were performed on a sugar syrup. Phosphoric acid activation had the best ICUMSA colour removals for all sugar cane bagasse fractions and the highest yield of activated carbon per unit biomass feed. However the low pH of 1.8 of the decolourised syrup will negate potential use of phosphoric acid activated carbon in the sugar industry, using the present method. The high colour removals are in part due to the leaching of the adsorbed acid. The syrup was clarified by a phosphitation process during pH correction to 7.0, as required by the ICUMSA colour method. Similar effects were noticed for the zinc chloride carbons. Activated carbons prepared from zinc chloride and calcium chloride both yield promising results.