Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) is one of carbon material type and has received fascinating attention to be used a metal support. In this study, two portions of samples were prepared separately into pristine CNFs (CNF-P) and functionalized CNFs (CNF-2RX) sample. CNF-2RX sample was refluxed in HNO3 solution for 2 h. Subsequently, surface properties for both samples were evaluated by BET, FESEM-EDX, TEM, XPS, and FTIR. Results have shown significant differences of surface properties between CNF-P and CNF-2RX. It revealed that CNF-2RX which has been introduced to HNO3 treatment was increased 12.43 of surface area, pore volume and formed oxygen surface group (carboxylic group) compared to pristine CNFs. Then performance of iron distribution and loaded onto two different types of supports which are Fe/CNF-P and Fe/CNF-2RX by DP method were characterized by TEM, BET and XRF. These results revealed high loaded of iron were obtained for both samples (Fe/CNF-P with 8.43 wt. and 9.15 wt. for Fe/CNF-2RX) but only Fe/CNF-2RX shown uniform and close distribution between iron particles. Deposition of iron particles at Fe/CNF-2RX were found to be at internal surface which cause decrease of support surface area and pore volume with confirmed that strong interaction by adsorption between iron and oxygen surface group at CNF-2RX surface have obtained. © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.