Recognizing the potential of K-salts, apart from KOH, for generating porous carbons using chemical activation

•Chemical activation using potassium (K) salts excluding potassium hydroxide (KOH).•Mechanism details of K-salts to produce highly developed porous carbons.•Textural properties, morphology, elemental composition, and yield of porous carbons.•Potential of porous carbons for gas capture, energy storage, and contaminants removal.