The present invention relates to active charcoals with improved mechanical properties. They can advantageously be used in the sweetening of petroleum fractions, as oxidation catalyst support in the conversion of mercaptans to disulphides, but also in any other type of reaction, such as, for example, for the oxidation of cyanide present in water or in the synthesis of glyphosate, and in processes for purification and/or separation by selective adsorption in a liquid phase and/or in a gas phase (decolouration of liquid foodstuffs, water treatment, air treatment, recovery of solvents, and the like).