The effects of different media on carbon pretreatments for oxygen reduction in alkaline electrolyte without application of active electrocatalysts were examined. Low surface area Vulcan XC-72 and high surface area Ketjenblack EC-300 were subjected to aqueous acid (flouric or formic), gaseous (H-2, N-2 or CO2) and thermal treatments at 600 or 900 degreesC. Though non-scrubbed air was used, as a result of which carbonate build-up was high and peroxide concentration increased due to the electrode reaction, some of the electrodes resulted in life-tests of more than 2000 h at 65 degreesC, 6 M KOH with a constant load of 50 mA cm(-2) and intermittent polarisations at higher current densities. BET-surface areas and pH changes of more than 60% and weight losses of up to 15% of the carbon blacks were observed after the pretreatment steps. Electrochemical characterisation of the carbons showed that pretreatment steps of the carbon blacks have a significant effect on the long-term stability and activity of the gas diffusion electrodes in alkaline electrolyte.