Adamson University

Manila
College of Engineering
Chemical Engineering Department
Experiment 6
Adsorption

Group # 5
Name
1. Coloma, Gillyn M
2. Pascual, Ronald Patrick D.
3. Sosa, Ma. Rebecah
Date of Experiment: January 27, 2015
Date of Submission: February 3, 2015
Instructor : Engr. Anabella C. Vilando

201211846
201210270
201211508

Abstract

Introduction
Adsorption is a process that occurs when a gas or liquid solute
accumulates on the surface of a solid or a liquid (adsorbent), forming a
molecular or atomic film (the adsorbate). It is different from absorption, in
which a substance diffuses into a liquid or solid to form a solution. The term
sorption encompasses both processes, while desorption is the reverse
process.
Adsorption is operative in most natural physical, biological, and
chemical systems, and is widely used in industrial applications such as
activated charcoal, synthetic resins and water purification.
Similar to surface tension, adsorption is a consequence of surface
energy. In a bulk material, all the bonding requirements (be they ionic,
covalent or metallic) of the constituent atoms of the material are filled. But
atoms on the (clean) surface experience a bond deficiency, because they are
not wholly surrounded by other atoms. Thus it is energetically favorable for
them to bond with whatever happens to be available. The exact nature of the
bonding depends on the details of the species involved.
The experiment aimed to determine the saturation value of
monomolecular coverage for the adsorption of acetic acid by activated
charcoal. It also aimed to determine the values k and n in the Freundlich
equation; and to determine the values of a and b in Langmuirs equation
Theory

Adsorption is a surface phenomenon. It consists of an interaction between the moving

molecules of a liquid or gas phase and the relatively fixed molecules comprising a surface
or interface. (In this discussion the term molecule will be used generically to include
atoms and ions as well as molecules). The moving molecules become bound to the
surface more or less strongly. Adsorption processes may be classified as physical or
chemical. Another classification is reversible and irreversible, referring to the
comparative ease of removal, desorption of the bound molecules. Generally, physical
adsorption (physisorption) is reversible, while the chemical type (chemisorptions) is
irreversible. The adsorbed molecules may come from a gas phase, a liquid or from a
solution in a liquid. The adsorbing surface may be either liquid or solid.
Adsorption from solution is usually monomolecular (monolayer coverage); i.e.
adsorption ceases when the surface is completely covered with a layer of one molecular
thick. Adsorbed layers more than one molecular thick have been proved to exist in
certain cases as yet rare. The amount of adsorption varies with the concentration of the
solution. There are two equations for this relationship for monomolecular adsorption.
One is the empirical Freundlich equation:
x /m = KCn or log ( x /m ) = log k + n log C

in which x/m is the weight of the absorbed material per gram of adsorbent and C is the
concentration of the solution at equilibrium. The term k and n are constants to be
evaluated from experimental data in each case.
x
abC
C
1 C
=

= +
m 1+aC
x
ab b
( )
m
in which x/m and C have the same significance as above, a is a constant proportional to
the heat of adsorption and the temperature, and b is the amount of adsorption when the
surface is covered with a monomolecular film. Langmuirs equation is based on the
assumption that the solid surface is completely uniform. Deviations from the equation
indicate lack of uniformity in the surface.
Apparatus
Reagents

Procedure

Results
Discussion of results
Conclusions
Recommendations
Literature Cited
Nomenclature