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OBJECTIVE
THEORY
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 favourable for them to bond
with whatever happens to be available. The exact nature of the bonding depends
on the details of the species involved, but the adsorbed material is generally
classified as exhibiting physisorption or chemisorption.
Typical Characteristics of Adsorption Processes
Physisorption or physical adsorption is a type of adsorption in which the
adsorbate adheres to the surface only through Van der Waals (weak
intermolecular) interactions, which are also responsible for the non-ideal
behaviour of real gases.
Chemisorptionis a type of adsorption whereby a molecule adheresto a
surface through the formation of a chemical bond, as opposed to the Van der
Waals forces which cause physisorption.
Chemisorption Physisorption
Crystallographic
Specificity
Marked variation Virtually independent of
(variation between
between crystal planes surface atomic geometry
different surface planes of
the same crystal)
Multilayer uptake
Saturation Uptake Limited to one monolayer
possible
Absorption Adsorption
Assimilation of molecular Accumulation of the molecular
species throughout the bulk species at the surface rather than
Definition
of the solid or liquid is in the bulk of the solid or liquid
termed as absorption. is termed as adsorption.
Phenomenon It is a bulk phenomenon It is a surface phenomenon.
Heat exchange Endothermic process Exothermic process
It is not affected by It is favoured by low
Temperature
temperature temperature
Rate of It occurs at a uniform rate. It steadily increases and reach to
reaction equilibrium
It is same throughout the Concentration on the surface of
Concentration material. adsorbent is different from that
in the bulk
Activated carbon
Activated carbon is by far the most common adsorbent used in wastewater
or gas treatment. Since, during adsorption, the pollutant is removed by
accumulation at the interface between the activated carbon (absorbent) and the
wastewater (liquid phase) or gas the adsorbing capacity of activated carbon is
always associated with very high surface area per unit volume. The high surface
area per unit volume characteristic of activated carbon is obtained with a two-step
process used in carbon manufacturing:
Pyrolysis of raw material (typically a high carbon source such as coal,
wood, nut shells) to drive off (distill) the lighter fraction producing a
charred, highly carbonaceous solid residue;
Activation of the charred residue via oxidation (typically with air or
steam) to form a network of pores and passages with high surface area.
Pore Structure in activated carbons typically range from 10 to 10,000 Å in
diameter. Pores having a diameter larger than 1000 Å are called macropores.
Pores having a diameter smaller than 1000 Å are called micropores. Micropores
are primarily responsible for the adsorption characteristics of activated carbon.
Typical surface areas in activated carbons range from 500 to 1500 m2/g of carbon.
Equipment, chemical
3. Bracket 1
4. Gas pump 1
5. Condenser 1
6. Electric stove 1
7. Pressure cooker 7
11. Pipette 7
Description experiments
Achievements
- Measured volume of alcohol remaining
- Measured the amount of alcohol to evaporate