A process is provided for the production of a catalytically active carbonaceous char. By this process, a nitrogen-containing compound is combined with an uncarbonized nitrogen-poor carbon-containing material. The resulting mixture is then carbonized and oxidized at temperatures less than 500° C. The resulting char is next heated to temperatures greater than 500° C and subsequently activated with H2O, CO2, or O2, singly or in any combination, to result in the catalytically active carbonaceous char. The resulting catalytically active carbonaceous char has utility for the chemical conversion of peroxides, hydrides, SOX, NOX, and chloramines in liquid and/or gaseous media.