Mechanical compression and electrolyte infusion of wood, pyrolysis and chemical activation of charcoals have resulted in enhanced abilities absorb lead ion and benzene from model polluted water solutions. Iodine number and methylene blue indeces also reveal enhancement of surface activity. Ultrasonic techniques reveal a loss of pore structure during wood compression, as does water infiltration of resultant charcoals, but there is not necessarily a loss of adsorption ability for the above adsorbants on subsequent charcoals. Aspen derived charcoals activated by pressurized H2O2 show the most promise among those tested.