The term, chemical activation is referred to the pyrolysis of the starting material which
have been previously added some chemical as phosphoric acid or zinc chloride that
restrict the formation of tar; in this way, a carbonized product with a well-developed
porosity may be obtained in a single operation.
All the agents involved in the chemical activation have a common feature of being
dehydrating agents that influence during the pyrolytic decomposition and inhibit the
formation of tar increasing the yield of carbon.