Infrared study of 1,2-dihydroxyethane and its methyl ethers adsorbed on silica immersed in carbon tetrachloride

Abstract

Infrared spectra are reported of silica immersed in solutions in carbon tetrachloride of 1,2-dihydroxyethane, 1-methoxy-2-hydroxyethane and 1,2-dimethoxyethane. Adsorption at low coverages involved hydrogen-bonding interactions between surface silanol groups and methoxy or hydroxy groups in adsorbate molecules. The methoxy compounds were adsorbed to a greater extent than 1,2-dihydroxyethane at low adsorbate concentrations. Spectra of adsorbed hydroxy compounds contained bands due to unperturbed hydroxy groups showing that only one of the functional groups in some molecules was linked to the surface by a hydrogen bond. The hydroxy compounds were involved in multilayer adsorption which accompanied high surface coverage of isolated silanol group adsorption sites.