Intensive pyrolysis of unsaturated organic precursors over acidified oxide surfaces

A probable elementary mechanism for non-catalytic heterogeneous pyrolysis of unsaturated organic precursors over an oxide surface reinforced by Lewis acids is proposed. The main characteristics of the composite hydrophobic materials produced by the NCHP technique using pre-acidified alumina samples-their chemical compositions, surface affinities to water, thermal stabilities in air, dynamic VOC adsorption and desorption capacities are presented and discussed. The elaborated composites are non-flammable in air until 600 °C, whereas the thermal stability limit of activated carbons is situated in the 250-300 °C range. As compared to activated carbons, these materials manifest really stable surface activities in VOC adsorption-desorption cycles.