Add to ORKGThe oxidn. of carbon black on an Al2O3-supported K-Cu-V catalyst was studied in order to characterize the mechanism of carbon gasification, which is the basis of a catalytic post-combustion treatment for removal of particulates in flue gases from fuel oil-fired power plants. In the presence of catalyst the temps. of carbon black burnoff were strongly lowered. Catalyst characterization suggested that a redox mechanism is responsible for the strong activity of the catalyst. Measurements of temp.-programmed desorption of carbon oxides gave evidence that the energy of desorption of the carbon-oxygen surface complexes was dramatically modified by the presence of catalyst