The microstructral characteristics of water/AEO9/hexadecane/hexanol microemulsion have been investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy. The broad peaks obtained for water OH and the ethereous bands have been resolved by the Gaussian Curve fitting program and the peak intensity and peak area corresponding to each peak have been particularly analyzed. It has been observed that the aqueous core of the microemulsion droplet was composed of trapped and free water while a small amount of water remained bound in the interface. When the microemulsion is vigorously shaken, the trapped water will increase while bound water will decrease. That is because the water molecules on the surfactant surface have escaped.

Key words: INFRARED SPECTROPHOTOMETRY, NON IONIC SURFACTANTS, MICROEMUSION, DIOCTYL, POLYETHENOXY ETHER, N-HEXYL ALCOHOL (=1-HEXANOL)