Porous carbon material composites and their production process, adsorbents, cosmetics, purification agents, and composite photocatalyst materials

A process for producing a porous carbon material composite, the process comprising:

• carbonizing a silicon-containing plant-derived material at from 800° C. to 1,400° C. and generating a precursor carbonized material with oxidized silicon compounds;
• reducing the silicon in the precursor carbonized material by treating the carbonized material with a hydrofluoric acid or an alkali and removing the oxidized silicon compounds;
• activating the precursor carbonized material after reducing the silicon in the precursor carbonized material by subjecting the precursor carbonized material to a steam stream and generating a porous carbon material;
• and
• causing a functional material to adhere on the porous carbon material using a complexing treatment in which the porous carbon material is (a) immersed at 25° C. for 24 hours in a 0.5 mol/L aqueous solution of iron chloride, (b) then washed with water and, (c) then subjected to heat treatment at 750° C. for three hours in a nitrogen atmosphere to complete the creation of the porous carbon material composite.