SSNCE Dr.S.L
As we approach smaller dimensions, surface effects become much
more dominant
small particle
Large particle High surface ratio
volume
Molecules (atoms) at a surface experience a net attractive force
towards the interior
-This unbalanced force manifests itself
as surface tension in liquids
Rain drops - spherical
Absorbate
A substance that becomes absorbed into another
material, or absorbent.
Absorbent
The substrate into which a substance is absorbed.
Absorption
The increase in quantity (transfer) of one material
into another or of material from one phase into another
phase.
Adsorbate
A substance that becomes adsorbed at the interface or
into the interfacial layer of another material, or
adsorbent.
Adsorbent
The substrate material onto which a substance is
Sorption
A process in which both of the processes of adsorption and
absorption takes place simultaneously
Desorption – release of adsorbed or absorbed substances into
surrounding medium
Sorbate
A substance that becomes sorbed into an interface or another material
or both.
Sorbent
The substrate into which or onto which a substance is sorbed or both.
Monolayer adsorption
Adsorption in which a first or only a layer of molecules becomes
adsorbed at an interface.
In monolayer adsorption, all of the adsorbed molecules will be in
contact with the surface of the adsorbent. The adsorbed layer is
termed a monolayer or monomolecular film
Difference between adsorption and
absorption
Adsorption is a surface phenomenon – due to surface tension
Absorption is a bulk phenomenon in which the substance
assimilated is uniformly distributed throughout the body of the solid
or liquid”- due to capillary action
• Activated Carbon
• Activated Alumina
• Silica Gel
• Molecular Sieves (zeolite)
• Polar and Non-polar adsorbents
Characteristics of Adsorption
Spontaneous
Exothermic ∆H = negative
Reversible process
Eg Adsorption of Hydrogen/oxygen on
charcoal
Irreversible
Factors
(1) Nature of the gas
Easily liquefiable gases (like HCl, NH3, Cl2, etc.) are
adsorbed more easily than the permanent gases (like
H2, N2, O2, etc.).
The higher the critical temperature (Tc), the more easily
the gas is liquefied - more readily it is adsorbed
Adsorption of various gases by 1 g of activated charcoal
Reversible character
Adsorption isobar -
surface coverage θ
T1
Vol. adsorbed
T2 >T1
T3 >T2
T4 >T3
T5 >T4
Pressure
Effect of P
x/m α P or x/m = KP
Slope=1/n
log x/m
Deviates at high P
intercept+=log K
log P
Effect of P on adsorption – Adsorption Isotherm
P4>P3
P3>P2
Vol. adsorbed
P2>P1
P1
Temperature
Langmuir Adsorption Isotherm
Limitations
Fails at very high P – owing to
multimolecular layer formation
& condensation of gas
molecules in the pores of the
adsorbate
-
Types of adsorption Isotherm
Ps refers to saturation
pressure of the gas
The amount of
adsorption increases with
increase in pressure.
Adsorption of benzene
on silica gel at 50C
Adsorption of Solutes from solution
Negative adsorption
Applications of adsorption
Mechanism
A hydrogen atom is
transferred from the catalyst
surface to one of the
carbons of the double bond.
Step 3
Demineralisation process
Electrical demineralisation process
Zeolite process
Deionisation of water
Electrical demineralisation of water
Harde water +
-
+
-
-
-
+
-
+
-
+
+
-
anion exchange
Cation exchange Soft water membrane
membrane
Zeolite process (hydrated sodium alumino
silicates Na2O. Al2O3. xSiO2. yH2O)
h
Water softening process
Zeolite regeneration process
zeolite
Spent zeolite
Zeolites insoluble in water & are cation Exchangers
Regeneration
CaZ + NaCl → Na2Z + CaCl2
Disadvantages
Advantages
- removes hardness completely
- occupying small space
Summary
Adsorption – phenomenon of concentration of a gas/ liquid (adsorbate) at the
surface of a solid (adsorbent) with which it is in contact.