This disclosure relates to carbonizing and activating carbonaceous material. In some embodiments, the material is selected from coconut-derived material and like material of vegetable origin and resin materials to produce activated carbon, the production comprising supplying the material to the inlet end of a kiln, supplying to the kiln an atmosphere comprising steam or carbon dioxide substantially free of oxygen, maintaining a first region of the kiln having an independently controllable supply of heat at a temperature sufficient for drying or removing solvent from the material without carbonization, maintaining a second region of the kiln having an independently controllable supply of heat downstream from the first region at a temperature sufficient for carbonization of the material without activation; maintaining a third region of the kiln having an independently controllable supply of heat downstream from the second region at a temperature sufficient for activation of the carbonized material, and collecting activated carbon from the discharge end of the kiln.