The scientific evidence indicates that fossil resource usage across various industries significantly contributes to climate change. Simultaneously, modern living standards and technological advancements have created a reliance on products derived from these fossil resources. To address climate change while maintaining technological benefits, it is essential to transition to renewable sources. This shift not only reduces the carbon footprint of products but also lessens the overall environmental impact of production chains. Activated carbon, primarily produced from fossil coal, exemplifies a fossil-based material. It is widely utilized in separation applications, energy storage, and as a catalyst or catalyst support. Research has shown that activated carbon with desirable properties can be produced from various biomass sources, though industrial-scale production has mainly focused on coconut shells and wood. This work aims to explore why only hard biomasses are favored as renewable precursors for activated carbon and to analyze how different components and production processes influence its properties. The findings pave the way for new research avenues, enabling the use of diverse biomass types—regardless of moisture content, particle size, or composition—for developing advanced carbon materials applicable in various technologies.
