The structural and sorption properties of composite sorbents based on natural bentonite modified with carbon compounds have been investigated. Modification of the initial bentonite by low-temperature (650°C) pyrolysis of sucrose in the presence of metal salts of the iron subgroup leads to a significant increase in the specific surface area of composite sorbents (up to 275 m2/g), this is due to low-temperature catalytic graphitization of the carbon fraction formed during pyrolysis.