Surface modification of activated carbon fabric with ozone, part 1: Kinetics and oxidation degree

Two samples of activated carbon fabrics (ACF) with very high surface area (>1300 to >1800 m2/g) were reacted with ozone inside closed flasks in static conditions. The kinetics of ozone decomposition and reaction with the ACF surface was measured in the gas phase using FT-IR spectroscopy. The ozone consumption in these conditions was following the pseudofirst order kinetics law and was accompanied by the production of CO2 and CO. The ozone oxidized ACF were studied by FT-IR spectroscopy following the growth of the key oxidized functional groups i.e. phenolic OH, ketone groups intended as carboxyl, lactone and anhydride as well as quinone groups as function of the amount of O3 reacted. The weight uptake of the ACF reacted with O3 was followed gravimetrically. The ACF having >1800 m2/g was able to reach a weight increase of 25% of its original weight due to the formation of oxygenated surface functional groups. Raman spectroscopy was used for the evaluation of defective structures formed in ACF as a consequence to the ozonization reaction.