Molecular sieving carbon

Porous carbon granules each consisting of a multitude of contiguous, carbonaceous spheres bonded in molded relationship, said spheres having a diameter of from 0.8 to 120 micrometers, said spheres having internal micropores having an average size of not more than 10 Angstrom units and most of said micropores having an average size of from 3 to 5 Angstrom units, the volume of said micropores being from 0.1 to 0.7 cc/g, said spheres having a volume of larger pores having an average size of from 15 to 200 Angstrom units of up to 0.2 cc/g, each of said granules having continuous, randomly disposed pathways between said spheres, said pathways having an average diameter of from 0.1 to 20 micrometers, said micropores communicating with said pathways,

• said granules being either columnar granules having a diameter of from 0.5 to 5 mm and a length of from 1 to 10 mm, or substantially spherical granules having a diameter of from 0.5 to 10 mm, said granules consisting of at least 85% by weight of carbon, and having a porosity of 25 to 50% by volume, a bulk density of 0.7 to 1.2 g/cc and a specific surface area, measured by the B.E.T. method of N.sub.2 adsorption, of from 5 to 600 m.sup.2 /g.

Porous carbon granules each consisting of a multitude of contiguous, carbonaceous spheres bonded in molded relationship, said spheres having a diameter of from 2 to 80 micrometers, said spheres having internal micropores having an average size of not more than 10 Angstrom units and most of said micropores having an average size of from 3 to 5 Angstrom units, the volume of said micropores being from 0.2 to 0.4 cc/g, said spheres having a volume of larger pores having an average size of from 15 to 200 Angstrom units of up to 0.1 cc/g, each of said granules having continuous, randomly disposed pathways between said spheres, said pathways having an average diameter of from 0.1 to 20 micrometers, said micropores communicating with said pathways,

• said granules being either columnar granules having a diameter of from 0.5 to 5 mm and a length of from 1 to 10 mm, or substantially spherical granules having a diameter of from 0.5 to 10 mm, said granules consisting of at least 85% by weight of carbon, and having a porosity of 30 to 45% by volume, a bulk density of 0.8 to 1.1 g/cc and a specific surface area, measured by the B.E.T. method of N.sub.2 adsorption, of from 20 to 350 m.sup.2 /g.