Surface characterization of oxidized activated carbon cloth Original Research Article

Cellulose based activated carbon cloth has been oxidized by air, nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide and iron nitrate cristallohydrate melt treatments. Thermogravimetric analysis, selective neutralization, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrical resistance measurements have been applied to characterize the products. The amount and type of oxygen surface groups have been determined for the different oxidation procedures. The amount of surface groups formed decrease with oxidation procedure in the order: iron nitrate, nitric acid, air and hydrogen peroxide.