TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - BIOTECHNOLOGY - Preferred Pretreatment: At least part of the raw material is treated with enzyme(s), preferably enzymes that decompose cellulose, hemicellulose and/or other polysaccharides, especially with cellulase and xylanase.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Pretreatment: The raw material is ground to a maximum particle size of 5-0.02, especially about 0.25 mm. The raw material or material from the first carbonization stage may also be treated with chemicals that (partly) dissolve polysaccharides, preferably with potassium hydroxide (KOH) or phosphoric acid.Preferred Conditions: Low-temperature carbonization is carried out first at about 350degreesC and then at about 750degreesC. The first and/or second carbonization and/or activation stage preferably is carried out in a rotary or vibrating tubular reactor or fluidized bed reaction, especially a rotary tubular reactor. The first and/or second low temperature carbonization and/or activation stages are carried out in an oxygen-free atmosphere or protective gas, preferably nitrogen, carbon dioxide or noble gas, with residence times of 15-120 minutes. Before further processing, the material from the first and/or second carbonization stage is pressed, preferably with addition of substances improving the structure, especially material containing polysaccharides, which may be material from an external source, especially industrial sugar or industrial starch, or vegetable raw material obtained by enzymatic treatment and/or preliminary low temperature carbonization. The material preferably is dried first and pressed, especially pelletized, at 180-400, preferably about 250degreesC and 1-100, preferably 5-25, especially about 10 bar. It is then ground, preferably to a maximum particle size of 5-0.02, especially about 0.25 mm, before further treatment. EXAMPLE - Coarsely ground raw material was placed in a tubular reactor turning at a constant rate of at most 9 rpm. The transport rate was about 1 g/hour. Low temperature carbonization was carried out (A) for 50 minutes at 350degreesC, then (B) for 60 minutes at 550degreesC. As much tar formed in stage (A) and the product was sticky, the material was dry before carbonization. In another series of tests, the raw material was ground finely to a maximum particle size of 0.25 mm and low temperature carbonization was carried out (A') twice at 550degreesC in 1 l/minute protective gas stream, using a residence time less than 70 minutes and transport rate of about 6 g/hour, then (B, B') at 750degreesC In both cases, (C) activation was carried out at 850degreesC in carbon dioxide (2 l/minute). The products from these stages had an iodine adsorption of (A) 160, (A') 133, (B) 153, (B') 279 and (C) 540, (C') 600 mg/g; and BET surface area of (A) 14.2, (B) 1.1, (C) 323, (C') 342 m2/g. The total yields were (A) 36, (A') 35, (B) 26, (B') 22, (C) 6, (C') 12%.