Bamboo charcoal,made through a high temperature pyrolysis process,provides a new way to utilize bamboo.The effects of species and age of the bamboo,carbonization temperature and time on the yield rate and specific surface area were evaluated in this study.The results showed that the specific surface area was considerably affected by both carbonization temperature and time.The bamboo charcoal had the maximum specific surface area when treated at 800 ℃ for a duration of 2,3, hours.