Adsorption of toluene, methylcyclohexane and neopentane on silica MCM-41

Adsorption-desorption isotherms of toluene, methylcyclohexane and neopentane were determined on a silica MCM-41 material of pore diameter similar to 3.4 nm over the temperature range 258 K to 308 K (278 K for neopentane). The isosteric enthalpies of adsorption were determined from the isotherms at the various temperatures. It was found that the isotherms of toluene and methylcyclohexane have a similar variation with the temperature, exhibiting hysteresis at 268 K and at lower temperature, while the adsorption of neopentane is reversible at all temperatures. The three organic adsorptives interact differently with the silica surface and the isosteric enthalpies of adsorption indicated that methylcyclohexane has the weakest interaction and toluene the strongest. A slight increase in the adsorption enthalpy at the beginning of the capillary condensation step is observed with methylcyclohexane and neopentane but not with toluene.