Impregnated activated carbons (IACs) that are used in broad spectrum gas mask applications have historically contained copper and/or zinc impregnants. The addition of an oxidizing agent, such as nitric acid (HNO(3)) can be useful in distributing the metallic impregnants uniformly on the activated carbon substrate. In this work, we study IACs prepared from copper nitrate (Cu(NO(3))(2)) and zinc nitrate (Zn(NO(3))(2)) Precursors as a function of HNO(3) content present in the impregnating solution and as a function of heating temperature. The gas adsorption capacity of the IACs was determined by dynamic flow testing using sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), ammonia (NH(3)), hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and cyclohexane (C(6)H(12)) challenge gases under dry and humid conditions. The thermal decomposition and distribution of the impregnant on the activated carbon substrate is studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermal analysis techniques. Relationships between gas adsorption capacity, impregnant distribution and the species of surface impregnants are discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.