Hydrogen-bonding and adsorption of dicarboxylic acids by alumina

Abstract

Adsorption of succinic acid and adipic acid by the alumina trihydrate, Alcoa C730, from aqueous solution has been studied. The results could be satisfactorily interpreted in terms of a parallel orientation of acid molecules on the adsorbent surface, but the acid molecules seem to be associated with some water molecules in the adsorbed phase. The acid molecules in the adsorbed phase are thus linked by hydrogen-bonding intermolecularly with other acid molecules or with adjacent water molecules, and not with surface hydroxyl groups as is the case with monocarboxylic acids.