The influence of the gradual oxidation of carbons on SO 2 physisorption was studied, by comparison of experimental and simulated SO 2 adsorption isotherms. The results confirmed a significant impact of surface groups on the SO 2 adsorption. The simulations also revealed a similar, to that observed experimentally, effect of the increase in the percentage of the smallest micropores on adsorption isotherms. The isotherms were analysed using the CMMS model. The conclusion is that this model seems to be a good and sensitive tool for studying SO 2 physisorption mechanism since a very good qualitative agreement between the experimental and simulated data was observed.