Studies in the Formation and Properties of Carbon-oxygen Surface Complexes. Part I. Formation of the Complexes on Treatment of Charcoal with Different Oxidising Agents.

Treatment of charcoal with different oxidising agents results, in some cases, in the fixation of oxygen giving rise to surface oxygen complexes, and, in some other Cases, in the elimination or oxygen if already present, the effect varying not only with the nature of the treatment but also with the initial oxygen status of the charcoal. The results indicate that formation of oxygen complexes is a step preceding combustion. The complex capable of evolving carbon dioxide appears to exist in two forms, one of which is acidic rid titratable against alkalies, the other is not