The work analyzes applications of carbon adsorbents in catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) being a variant of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs). Under CWPO condition (concentration [Н₂О₂] ≤ 30 %, 20±2°C) we have studied the activity of nanoporous adsorbent АC-К prepared by КОН-activation (800°C, 1 h) of brown coal. We have compared АC-К with solid product of thermolysis (SPT) of brown coal formed under the same conditions without КОН. АC-К, which has a high adsorbtion activity, catalyzes decomposition of Н₂О₂ to form ОН-radicals. This allows to combine two environmentally important processes: concentration of organic pollutants on the surface of adsorbent and their further decomposition by ОН-radicals.

Decomposition of Н₂О₂ in presence of АC-К or SPT is described by kinetic first-order equation and runs 20-30 times faster in contact with АC-К. Rate constants vary within the range of 0.053-0.28 min^-1 (АC-К) and 0.002-0.012 min^-1 (SPT) and grow under [Н₂О₂] increasing. Oxidative modification of АC-К and SPT surfaces under CWPO conditions has been studied. The dependence between content of ОН groups  in modified АC-К (24 h) samples and [Н₂О₂] is described as a curve with a maximum at [Н₂О₂] = 10 %, where the maximum modifying effect and the highest increse in ОН-groups content (from 1.00 to 1.55 mmole/g) are observed. Modification level is negligible; only 1 % of oxidant reacts to form functional groups.