ABSTRACT Low temperature oxidation of coal is the nature of oxidation of coal with oxygen molecules at temperatures below its oxidation critical point or ignition point, usually from ambient temperature to about 200°C. Air leakage and uneven oxygen distribution significantly impact coal spontaneous combustion in goaf. Understanding the changes in free radicals and functional groups during low-temperature oxidation of coal under different oxygen concentrations is crucial for preventing and controlling residual coal self-ignition. This study employs Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to analyze the effects of varying oxygen concentrations (3%, 5%, 9%, 15%, 21%) on functional groups and structural parameters during coal’s low-temperature oxidation. Results indicate that increasing oxygen concentration promotes the consumption of oxygen-containing functional groups, reducing their content from 71.9% to 52%. Concurrently, the activity and content of aromatic hydrocarbon functional groups rise rapidly from 4.8% to 52.6%. The aliphatic hydrocarbon structure shows a downward trend, indicating its minimal presence. Aromatic ring condensation increases coal sample aromaticity, suggesting higher maturity and weaker hydrocarbon generation potential, with minimal effect from oxygen concentration. Early-stage reactions show little change in coal’s basic structure, and coal-oxygen reactions remain low in low oxygen environments. This study provides an important basis for understanding the mechanism of coal spontaneous combustion in goaf and formulating effective prevention measures for coal spontaneous combustion.