ABSTRACT

In adsorption operations, solids, usually in granular form, are brought in contact with gaseous or liquid mixtures. The solids must have the ability to preferentially concentrate or adsorb on their surfaces specific components from the mixture. This phenomenon is possible because the attractive forces that exist between the atoms, molecules, and ions holding the solids together are unsatisfied at the surface and are thus available for holding the components in the mixtures to be adsorbed. Consequently, these components can be separated from each other and the carrier fluid.