The mechanism of β- Carotene adsorption on activated montmorillonite

Abstract

The variations in the structure of mineral during adsorption have been examined comparing the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetry (TG) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy of the acid activated montmorillonite clay mineral before and after adsorption of β-carotene. Based on the results, it was concluded that β-carotene attaches to the clay surface in the form of carbonium ions either by forming hydrogen bonds with Brönsted sites or by forming coordination bonds with Lewis sites of the activated clay mineral.