Covalent Bonds on Activated Carbon

This microreview presents a concise overview of the different synthetic approaches that have been applied to activated carbons over the years, with particular attention paid to the most recent contributions to achieving stable covalent linkage on their surfaces. The method of choice for covalent immobilization of molecules on carbon surfaces has been the creation of functional groups such as carboxylic acid, acyl halide, lactone and hydroxy groups on a surface through chemical reactions. The molecules or fragments of choice to be introduced are then tethered or covalently anchored to the reactive surface. We highlight the synthetic strategies that have been undertaken to prepare activated‐carbon supports or activated‐carbon hybrids, with a special focus on the differentprocedures that have been employed to provide them. A study of the principal uses of supported activated carbons is also presented.