Chemical changes associated with adsorption

The surface complexation models quantify adsorption with experimentally determined equilibrium constants. Another, less widely used approach considers the relationship between the equilibrium constant for the adsorption reaction and the associated free energy change (James and Healy, 1972). Attempts have been made to determine the chemical contribution to the overall adsorption free energy by fitting adsorption isotherms to the experimental data values of -50, -33 and —45 kj mol were found for the change in chemical free energy associated with adsorption of Cr, Ni and Zn, respectively, on ferrihydrite (Crawford et al., 1993). Values ranging from -21 to 241 kJ mol were found for Ni on hematite the actual value depended upon the hydrolysis species that were assumed to exist (Fuerstenau and Osseo-Assare, 1987). 

It is rare that a catalyst can be chosen for a reaction such that it is entirely specific or unique in its behaviour. More often than not products additional to the main desired product are generated concomitantly. The ratio of the specific chemical rate constant of a desired reaction to that for an undesired reaction is termed the kinetic selectivity factor (which we shall designate by 5) and is of central importance in catalysis. Its magnitude is determined by the relative rates at which adsorption, surface reaction and desorption occur in the overall process and, for consecutive reactions, whether or not the intermediate product forms a localised or mobile adsorbed complex with the surface. In the case of two parallel competing catalytic reactions a second factor, the thermodynamic factor, is also of importance. This latter factor depends exponentially on the difference in free energy changes associated with the adsorption-desorption equilibria of the two competing reactants. The thermodynamic factor also influences the course of a consecutive reaction where it is enhanced by the ability of the intermediate product to desorb rapidly and also the reluctance of the catalyst to re-adsorb the intermediate product after it has vacated the surface. 

Every molecule is capable of weakly interacting with any solid surface through van der Waals forces. The enthalpy change associated with this weak adsorption mode, called physisorption, is typically 40 kJ moF or less, which is far lower than the enthalpy of chemical bond formation. Even though physisorbed molecules are not activated for catalysis, they may serve as precursors to chemisorbed molecules. More than one layer of molecules can physisorb on a surface since only van der Waals interactions are involved. The number of physisorbed molecules that occupy... 

The physical chemist is very interested in kinetics—in the mechanisms of chemical reactions, the rates of adsorption, dissolution or evaporation, and generally, in time as a variable. As may be imagined, there is a wide spectrum of rate phenomena and in the sophistication achieved in dealing wifli them. In some cases changes in area or in amounts of phases are involved, as in rates of evaporation, condensation, dissolution, precipitation, flocculation, and adsorption and desorption. In other cases surface composition is changing as with reaction in monolayers. The field of catalysis is focused largely on the study of surface reaction mechanisms. Thus, throughout this book, the kinetic aspects of interfacial phenomena are discussed in concert with the associated thermodynamic properties. 

The practical characteristic of a dyestuff is that when a textile is immersed in a solution containing a dye. the dye preferentially adsorbs onto and diffuses into the texiile. The thermodynamic equations defining this process have been reviewed in detail. The driving force for this adsorption process is the difference in chemical potential between the dye In the solution phase and the dye in the fiber phase. In practice it is only necessary to consider changes in chemical potential and to understand that the driving force is the reduction in free energy associated with the dye molecule moving from one phase to the other, as the molecule always moves to the siate of lowest chemical potential. 

One major difficulty is associated with the use of all mass spectrometers employing a hot filament. Interaction of gases with the filament by adsorption or chemical reaction tends to change its emission characteristics and thus alter the sensitivity. New chemical species may be produced which appear as part of the... 

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