DIFFUSE-REFLECTANCE FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED-SPECTROSCOPY OF TRIACYLGLYCEROL AND OLEIC-ACID ADSORPTION ON SYNTHETIC MAGNESIUM-SILICATE

Diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) was used to obse rve adsorption complexes of triacylglycerol and oleic acid on silica g el and synthetic magnesium silicate. The spectra provide evidence of t he nature of the surface interaction. Triacylglycerol was shown to be physically adsorbed to both adsorbents. Oleic acid was physically adso rbed to the silica gel, but both physically and chemically adsorbed to the magnesium silicate. The FTIR spectrum of magnesium silicate that was used to treat a degraded frying oil was similar to that of oleic a cid adsorbed on magnesium silicate.