The catalytic activity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) with different surface chemistry was investigated in the decomposition of benzoyl and lauroyl peroxides (BP and LP respectively) at room temperature in non-aqueous media. Calculated diffusion coefficients (D (eff) ) indicate that catalysis is not limited by internal diffusion. CNT demonstrate a moderate catalytic activity that ordering in the raw: N-CNT > CNTini > CNTox. Surface chemistry analysis displays the dependence of catalytic ability of CNT on their surface electron donor properties. Operation stability experiments and TPD-MS analysis reveal that reactions proceeding via the single electron transfer (SET) mechanism. [GRAPHICS] .