Ferric sulfate is used in water purification. The oxidation of ferrous sulfate, FeSO4, to ferric sulfate in acidic aqueous solutions of H2SO4 over finely dispersed active carbon particles was studied in a vigorously stirred batch reactor. Molecular oxygen was used as the oxidation agent and two kinds of catalysts were utilized: active carbon, doped active carbon. Both active carbon and doped active carbon catalysts enhanced the oxidation rate considerably. Systematic kinetic experiments were carried out at the temperature and pressure ranges of 60-100 degreesC and 3-10 bar, respectively. The results revealed that both non-catalytic and catalytic oxidation of Fe2+ take place simultaneously. The experimental data were fitted to rate equations, which were based on a plausible reaction mechanism: adsorption of dissolved oxygen on active carbon, electron transfer from Fe2+ ions to adsorbed oxygen and formation of surface hydroxyls. A comparison of the Fe2+ concentrations predicted by the kinetic model with the experimentally observed concentrations indicated that the mechanistic rate equations were able to describe the intrinsic oxidation kinetics of Fe2+ over pure active carbon and doped active carbon catalysts.