High-temperature adsorption of n-octane, benzene, and chloroform onto silica gel surface

The adsorption properties of silica gel surface for compounds differing in types of intermolecular interactions were studied under conditions in which the same silica was investigated by means of a gas phase titration method, i.e., at high temperature and low surface coverage. Adsorption isotherms of n-octane, benzene, and chloroform were determined at 373, 363, and 353 K. Based on these isotherms the isosteric heat of adsorption was calculated. Moreover, the adsorption energy distribution function and the derivative of film pressure with respect to the adsorbed amount were computed from the isotherms determined at 373 K. The obtained results were compared to those determined by gas phase titration. It was stated that on the dependencies of film pressure derivative some linear sections appeared that corresponded to the inflection points on gas phase titration curves. The results are discussed in terms of both the type and the strength of surface-molecule interactions. (C) 2000 Academic Press.