chemisorbents

A chemisorbent is a material that removes a substance from a fluid (liquid or gas) through a chemical reaction. This process, known as chemisorption, involves the formation of chemical bonds between the sorbent and the substance being removed. Unlike physisorbents, which rely on weaker intermolecular forces, chemisorbents involve a more permanent transformation of the adsorbed substance.

Chemisorbents are employed in a wide range of applications. In gas purification, they are used to remove toxic or undesirable gases from industrial exhaust streams or breathing air. For example, activated carbon treated with specific chemicals can chemisorb hydrogen sulfide or mercury vapor. In catalysis, chemisorbents can act as active sites where reactants are adsorbed and transformed into products. They are also utilized in chromatography for separating chemical species based on their differing affinities for the chemisorbent material. The effectiveness of a chemisorbent depends on factors such as its surface area, porosity, chemical composition, and the chemical nature of the substance to be removed. Regeneration of chemisorbents can sometimes be achieved, but often the chemical reaction leads to a spent material that requires disposal or further chemical treatment.