Bentonite used as a host matrix in the study of ester hydrolysis

Abstract

Abstract: In this paper results obtained on the kinetics of este r adsorption on raw, acid treated and pre - heated bentonite have bee n presented. T he infra - red profiles and the XRF spectra of the raw and acid activated bentonite have also been discussed. The change in properties of bentonite on heating and acidification are shown to affect its adsorption characteristics. The adsorption efficiencies of bentonite are high, enhanced on acidification but diminished with pre - heating. Infra - red spectra shows that the C=O stretching vibration of the adsorbed molecules shifted to lower frequencies compared with the carbonyl band at 1700cm - 1 in the spectra of pure esters. The Lewis and Bronsted acid sites on the raw and acidified bentonite samples were also identified from the spectra of ethyl acetate adsorbed on the raw and acidi fied samples. Quantitative elemental analysis of the raw and acid treated bentonite shows changes in the amounts of cations on acidification