Adsorption of n-alkanes on silicon nitride nanopowder

Adsorption properties of silicon nitride beads were investigated by the inverse gas chromatography (IGC) method. Silicon nitride beads were obtained from a commercial nanopowder. Retentions of n-pentane, n-hexane, n-heptane, and n-octane were measured in the temperature range from 343 to 383 K, at zero surface coverage. Surface partition coefficients and the related thermodynamic functions (standard free energy changes, standard state enthalpy, and entropy changes) of the adsorption process were determined. The dispersive component of the surface free energy of silicon nitride, at investigated temperatures, was also calculated.