The present disclosure pertains to materials for CO.sub.2 adsorption at pressures above 1 bar, where the materials include a porous carbon material with a surface area of at least 2800 m.sup.2/g, a total pore volume of at least 1.35 cm.sup.3/g, and a carbon content of 80%-95%. The porous carbon material is prepared by heating organic polymer precursors or biological materials in the presence of KOH at 700 C.-800 C. The present disclosure also pertains to materials for the separation of CO.sub.2 from natural gas at partial pressures above 1 bar, where the material includes a porous carbon material with a surface area of at least 2000 m.sup.2/g, a total pore volume of at least 1.00 cm.sup.3/g, and a carbon content of greater than 90%. The porous carbon materials can be prepared by heating organic polymer precursors or biological materials in the presence of KOH at 600 C.-700 C.

Porositized/activated carbon processed from carbon or carbonaceous raw materials. The porositization process comprises: (1) loading porositizing agents; (2) thermal treatment; and (3) porous generation. In another embodiment, the porositization process comprises: (1) loading porositizing agents; and (2) thermal treatment wherein the carbon or carbonaceous materials undergo carbonization and self-activation during the thermal treatment. Activated carbon products that exhibit magnetic functionality.