[en] Hulls obtained from the fruits of five tropical biomass have been subjected to low temperature conversion process and their chars activated by partial physical gasification to produce active carbons. The biomass are T. catappa, B. nitida, L leucophylla, D. regia and O. martiana. The bulk densities of the samples ranged from 0.32 g.cm³ to 0.52 g.cm³. Out of the samples T. catappa recorded the highest cellulose content (41.9 g.100g^-1), while O. martiana contained the highest lignin content (40.7 g.100g^-1). The ash of the samples were low (0.5 - 4.4%). The percentage of char obtained after conversion were high (33.7% - 38.6%). Active carbons obtained from T. catappa, D. regia and O. martiana, recorded high methylene blue numbers and iodine values. They also displayed good micro- and mesostructural characteristics. Micropore volume (V_micro) was between 0.33cm³.g^-1 - 0.40cm³.g^-1, while the mesopore volume(V_meso) was between 0.05 cm³.g^-1 - 0.07 cm³.g^-1. The BET specific surface exceeds 1000 m².g^-1. All these values compared favourably with high grade commercial active carbons. (author)