Sorption of Carboxylic Acids by Wool: Effect of Solvents

Abstract

The sorption of low molecular weight carboxylic acids by wool from various solvents has been investigated. More extensive sorption was observed from neutral than from either basic or acidic solvents. These results may be rationalized in terms of acid-base interactions between solvent, wool, and carboxylic acids. Basic solvents inhibit sorption by competing with the wool for the acids, whereas acidic solvents inhibit sorption by competing with the carboxylic acids for the wool. Water, an amphoteric solvent, gives limited sorption of acids compared with that found from neutral solvents.