Oxygen-selective adsorbents were prepared by two different methods, hydrothermal and sol-gel methods. The adsorption and desorption characteristics of these adsorbents were compared in terms of stability and sorption capacity. The sorbents prepared by the sol-gel method showed better cyclic stability and higher adsorption capacity than that prepared by the hydrothermal method because the sol-gel method entrapped well the barium peroxide. Relaxation time for adsorption ranged from 4 to 9 min depending on the preparation methods and that for desorption was 6 min regardless of the preparation methods. Breakthrough experiment with the sorbent prepared by the sol-gel method was performed. The adsorption breakthrough curves at 600 degrees C showed two plateau regions. One was at about 3.5%, and the other was 20%. The first plateau region is related to the sharp transition point of the oxygen adsorption isotherm. Though the relaxation time for adsorption was 6 min, the time required from the end of the first plateau to the beginning of the second plateau was just 2 min. During the desorption, a plateau region at 3.5% of oxygen concentration was observed regardless of the desorption flow rate. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.