have you tried Raman or FT-IR spectroscopy?

Thank you Dr. Saeideh Ostovarpour for your attention to my question.

No, But is this a quick and easy way ?!

In disordered carbons, Raman may not be accurate especially as a measure of quality..

Taking a leaf from 'carbon black' industry, you can try OAN test, oil absorption number or use Dynamic Void Volume Analyzer

https://www.micromeritics.com/Product-Showcase/Dynamic-Void-Volume-Analyzer-4000.aspx

Hi Mr. Sridhar Vadahanambi and Saeideh Ostovarpour I am looking for a simple and inexpensive way to do this with basic and simple tools. As a result, expensive equipment is not available and is costly to test and This is one question about activated carbon for water treatment or air purification.

An innovative way to do this must be found.

Activated carbon is not a single pure substance. There exist in the market several different qualities gor different purposes.

For example, you will not find a single solution for water and air purification.

The manufacturers of the products will reccomend you the quality for each specific application.

In fact an approach could be the suggestion to determine surface specific surface by BET. Even though, you will only evaluate the absorption of N2(g) under certain conditions.

And the practical absortion will depend on size of the pores, tortuosity and most important on the size and polarity of the molecules of the contaminants.

Still I. could suggest you a simple test for water soluble contaminants: make a solution of a standard water-soluble colorant and quantify by colorimetry the efficiency to decolorate of the activated carbons you have at hand in the same operating conditions you envisage at large-scale.

Probably the most efficient is a good choice for you