The Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FT-IR/PAS) method to characterize the interactions between selected aminopolycarboxylic acids and inorganic oxides surfaces is reviewed. In this work, the adsorption of four aminopolycarboxylates (biodegradable and with augmented biodegradability; all in the form of sodium salts), viz. ethylenediaminedisuccinic (EDDS), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic (DTPA), N-(hydroxyethyl) ethylenediaminetriacetic (HEDTA) and methylglycine-diacetic (MGDA) acids on: zirconia, titania and alumina was carried out. The obtained results differ depending on the kind of aminopolycarboxylic acid used and the type of oxide support adsorbent characterized by its pH(PZC) value. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B. V.