Surface modification of activated carbon fabric with ozone. Part 2: Thermal analysis with TGA-FTIR and DTA

Two samples of activated carbon fabrics (ACF) with very high surface area (>1300 to >1800m(2)/g) fully ozonized in the part 1 of this study were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled both with differential thermal analysis (DTA) and FT-IR spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR). The adsorbed water and the amount of oxygenated functional groups were determined. The ozonized ACF shows an exothermal decomposition at about 181-189 degrees C which may be due at least in part to the decomposition of ozonide and/or peroxide groups. The TGA-FTIR has revealed that the main products released from the thermal decomposition are CO2 followed by CO. Formic acid was detected only in correspondence to the exothermal transition at 181 degrees C and was taken as a proof of the decomposition of secondary ozonides.