Carbonized polyacrylonitrile fibers for the catalytic ozonation of oxalic acid

• Textile polyacrylonitrile fibers (with high N content) were carbonized and activated.
• Prepared samples were tested as catalysts in oxalic acid ozonation.
• The role of the materials surface chemistry in the oxalic acid removal was evidenced.
• High concentrations of surface pyridinic (N6) groups favor the process.

Textile polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers, which contain nitrogen, were carbonized at different temperatures and activated during 10 h in order to assess their performance as ozonation catalysts in the oxalic acid degradation The fiber carbonized at 800 °C shows the best performance due to its basic character and, mainly, the high concentration of nitrogen surface groups, particularly N-pyridinic (N6) groups. The carbonization of PAN fibers is a simple and effective method to prepare materials with good catalytic activity in ozonation processes

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