Interpretation of Adsorption Isotherm Hysteresis for an Activated Charcoal Using Stochastic Pore Networks

Water vapor adsorption equilibria on activated carbons typically exhibit hysteresis. The size and shape of the hysteresis loop which separates the adsorption and desorption branches is a strong function of the pore size and interconnectivity of the pore. Neither conventional pore filling models nor statistical thermodynamics approaches provide a means for predicting the extent of hysteresis from only adsorption measurements. This work uses the Kelvin Equation in conjunction with the structural concept of a stochastic network to describe measured water isotherms on BPL carbon. Network models, Adsorption hysteresis, Water vapor adsorption.