Given the observed catalytic performance, raw MK10 and BMK10 were further characterized by FTIR analysis to obtain additional information on the catalyst surface properties. The appearance of absorption bands at the range of 3218e3854 cm_1 in the spectrum of raw MK10 clay showed the presence of OeH stretching and water molecules, and these bands
were assigned to the stretching modes of external and internal hydroxyl groups similar to observed peaks by Zatta et al