Oxygen surface groups analysis of carbonaceous samples pyrolysed at low temperature

The basis of recently developed quantitative TG-MS analysis was used for the evaluation of TPD-MS measurements in order to characterize the changes in the surface chemistry of carbon cryogels after the oxidation/activation treatment. This methodology was applied to the analysis of partially pyrolysed carbon cryogels (400 °C), which were oxidized/activated in four different ways (phosphoric acid, Fenton like reaction, ammonium persulfate with sulfuric acid and nitric acid with hydrogen peroxide). The quantitative TPD-MS evaluation enables analysis of all the evolved gases during the sample heating (without the calibration of all gases) and distinguishes the carbonization process from the decomposition of the more thermally stable oxygen surface groups (analysis of the effect of oxidation/activation reagents). The activation by H3PO4 results in the hydrolysis and esterification of anhydrides, lactones and phenols and creation of phosphoric acid esters (C-O-P), which decompose into C3-P=O linkages with the CO evolution. All the oxidation treatments had a similar effect on the surface chemistry. The amounts of carboxylic acids and anhydrides increased significantly, while the amount of lactones and phenol groups decreased (oxidized into carbonyls). Application of TG-MS fundamentals to the evaluation of TPD-MS profiles from a wide range of samples allows determining all the gaseous products. [Display omitted]