The effects of catalyst poisons on sorption isotherms

Abstract

The sorption isotherms of benzene and water on silica gel and the modification of each of these isotherms by the presence of varying amounts of the other vapor as a poison were studied in an effort to differentiate between adsorption and absorption in the sorption process. From the modification of the curves in the presence of increasing amounts of poison, it was concluded that the sorption of water on silica gel is due to Capillary condensation and the Sorption of benzene on silica gel is due to monolayer adsorption followed by capillary condensation. The apparatus and the techniques employed in running the isotherms are described. It is believed that these techniques can be extended to the study of systems other than that studied by us.