The Invention relates to an apparatus or installation for producing active carbon, in particular by carbonization and subsequent activation of polymeric, organic, preferably sulphonated, starting materials, wherein the apparatus or installation comprises optionally a drying device for drying the starting materials, optionally a sulphonating device, arranged downstream of the optionally present drying device, for sulphonating and/or peptizing the optionally previously dried starting materials, a carbonizing device, arranged downstream of the optionally present drying device and/or the optionally present sulphonating device, for carbonizing the optionally previously dried and/or sulphonated and/or peptized starting materials, as well as an activating device, arranged downstream of the carbonizing device, for activating the starting materials previously carbonized in the carbonizing device, wherein the apparatus or installation also comprises at least one exhaust-gas treatment device for treating the exhaust gases formed in the carbonizing device and/or in the activating device during operation.