The increasing need for sustainable solutions to environmental pollution has highlighted the importance of sorbent materials, particularly activated carbon, in removing a wide range of contaminants, including heavy metals, organic pollutants, and dyes, from aqueous and gaseous environments. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of the role of - sor chemistry, activation methods, and sorption mechanisms. It further discusses carbonization and activation strategies including physical and chemical methods, as well as one-step and two-step processes in relation to pore development, surface area, and functionalization. The sorption mechanisms of heavy metals, including electrostatic interactions, ion multi-metal systems, regeneration potential, with comparative evaluation against commercial carbons, and emphasizing the roles of precursor selection and activation conditions. Also, the review addresses the environmental implication and economy integration. The challenges, knowledge gaps, and future perspectives are also outlined, suggesting guidance for sustainable, and scalable heavy metal remediation.

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