Infrared studies of ethanol adsorbed on porous glass

Abstract

The interaction of ethanol with Vycor porous glass, at room temperature, has been studied with the aid of infrared spectroscopy. Bands between 3750 and 2800 cm^–1 were observed. They are attributed to three adsorbed species, which have been tentatively identified as ethanol, ethylene and a carbonium ion (which is thought to be a precursor of the ethylene). The olefin is thought to result from the dissociative adsorption of ethanol on acidic and basic centres, via a mechanism proposed by Figueras et al. The acidic centres have been identified as Brönsted acids.