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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