Sorptsiooni

Sorptsiooni is a term used in chemistry and physics to describe the process where atoms, ions, or molecules from a substance (a gas, liquid, or dissolved solid) adhere to a surface. This adhesion can occur through either physisorption, which involves weak van der Waals forces, or chemisorption, which involves the formation of chemical bonds. The substance that adheres to the surface is called the adsorbate, and the material to which it adheres is called the adsorbent.

Sorptsiooni is a surface phenomenon, meaning it primarily occurs at the interface between two phases. The extent of sorptsiooni is influenced by factors such as the surface area of the adsorbent, the temperature, the pressure of the adsorbate in the surrounding phase, and the chemical nature of both the adsorbate and the adsorbent. For instance, a larger surface area generally leads to greater sorptsiooni. Increasing the pressure of a gas will typically increase the amount of gas adsorbed onto a solid surface, up to a certain point where the surface becomes saturated.

This process has numerous applications in various fields. It is fundamental to chromatography, a technique used for separating mixtures. Activated carbon, widely used in filters for water purification and air cleaning, works by adsorbing impurities. Catalysis often relies on sorptsiooni, where reactant molecules adsorb onto the surface of a catalyst, facilitating a chemical reaction. Sorptsiooni also plays a role in environmental science, for example, in the removal of pollutants from industrial emissions or wastewater.