Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of carbon

This short contribution is meant to point out a basic mechanism for the oxi dation of different carbons at high temperatures. The rate of carbon oxidat ion. i.e. CO-formation, is proportional to a steady state oxygen activity w hich is established on the carbon surface by the interplay of oxygen transf er reactions and carbon oxidation. This was proven in detail for the reacti on of electrode graphite. active charcoal and natural graphite in CO2-CO mi xtures, where by isotope exchange studies the rate of oxygen transfer could be measured separately [1, 2] but is also valid for other oxidizing atmosp heres.