The activated carbon was modified by nitric acid, vitriol and peroxyacetic acid. The effect on specific area, structure, pH and surface acidity groups of carriers by modification was discussed. The effect of modified condition of peroxyacetic acid (PAA) on the activity of catalysts was studied, too. Amounts of carbonyl and carboxyl groups in activated carbon were increased by peroxyacetic acid treatment. And activity of the catalyst prepared by the activated carbon modified in the optimum condition was 14.58% higher than that of activated carbon without treatment. The relationship between sum of carbonyl and carboxyl groups (m) and catalyst productivity was P＝1.83＋2.26×10－3×e3.17m. The reaction mechanism for vinyl acetate synthesis was proposed.

Key words: surface carboxyl and carbonyl group, peroxyacetic acid, activated carbon, catalyst of vinyl acetate