Environmental pollution caused by heavy metals, organic compounds, and emerging contaminants is one of the significant threats to ecosystems and human health. Carbon-based adsorbents, including activated carbon, biochar, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene-based materials, and carbon dots (CDsCarbon dots (CDs)), have been widely explored for their outstanding properties and high efficiency in pollutant removal. This chapter explores these carbon materials’ synthesis, properties, performance, and application in environmental remediation, focusing on their use in short-bed adsorption columns for large-scale pollutant removal. The synthesis of carbon-based adsorbents includes physical and chemical activation (for activated carbon), pyrolysis (for biochar), and chemical vapor deposition or arc discharge (for CNTs). These processes impart unique characteristics, such as high surface area, tunable porosity, and functional groups, which enhance their adsorption capabilities. Carbon-based materials also exhibit superior mechanical strength, chemical stability, and reusability, making them ideal for continuous use in industrial-scale applications. The adsorption mechanisms in carbon-based adsorbents include physical adsorption (physisorption), chemical adsorption (chemisorption), and electrostatic interactions, all of which play a role in efficient pollutant removal. Packed with carbon-based materials, short-bed adsorption columns are an easy and effective means of water, air, and soil contamination treatment. Such systems are scalable, cost-effective, and can remove a wide range of pollutants, such as heavy metals, dyes, pharmaceuticals, and VOCs. The performance and scalability of carbon-based adsorbents make them suitable for sustainable environmental remediation. Regeneration methods enhance their long-term usability, reducing operational costs and waste generation. Carbon-based adsorbents are a promising solution for mitigating environmental contamination and ensuring a cleaner, safer future.