The thermal regeneration of activated carbons loaded withp-nitrophenol (PNP) and other aromatic compounds was studied using a thermal balance. After pyrolysis of the adsorbates in nitrogen at 700°C, the residues were gasified with oxygen at 415 to 500°C or with steam at 840 to 920°C. Residues from PNP were several times more reactive to oxygen than the base carbons and also showed greater chemisorption of oxygen. For steam gasification, only small differences between spent and fresh carbons were found.