A sorbent is an
insoluble material that either
absorbs or
adsorbs liquids[1] or gases.[2] They are frequently used to remove
pollutants and in the cleanup of
chemical accidents[3] and
oil spills.[4] Besides their uses in industry, sorbents are used in commercial products such as
diapers[5] and
odor absorbents,[6] and are researched for applications in environmental air analysis, particularly in the analysis of
volatile organic compounds.[7] The name sorbent is derived from
sorption,[8] which is itself a derivation from adsorption and absorption.[9]
Mechanism of action
Sorbents collect specific liquids or gases depending on the composition of the material being used in the sorbent. Some of the most common sorbents used to clean oil spills are made from materials that are both
oleophilic and
hydrophobic, have high surface area through structural designs that include
pores and capillaries, and draw in liquid through
capillary action.[1] Sorbents may be used to collect undesirable
ions and act like a reusable
ion-exchange resin, composed of charged layers of material that can be heated or otherwise treated to remove pollutants.[10] In this and similar cases, pollutant particles are attracted to the sorbent through
electrostatic forces.[11] Some sorbents chemically bind to particles through chemical adsorption, or
chemisorption; this process is often more difficult to
reverse.[12]
Examples
Sorbents come in various forms and materials, including:
Activated carbon, the most widely used sorbent, which has been known and manufactured since the 19th century,[13]
^"Odor Emission Control during Composting Cattle Manure by using Compost Deodorization and utilization of Nitrogen Enriched Compost". Nioi Kaori Kankyou Gakkaishi (in Japanese). Japan Association on Odor Environment. July 2009.
doi:
10.2171/jao.40.229.
ISSN1348-2904.
A sorbent is an
insoluble material that either
absorbs or
adsorbs liquids[1] or gases.[2] They are frequently used to remove
pollutants and in the cleanup of
chemical accidents[3] and
oil spills.[4] Besides their uses in industry, sorbents are used in commercial products such as
diapers[5] and
odor absorbents,[6] and are researched for applications in environmental air analysis, particularly in the analysis of
volatile organic compounds.[7] The name sorbent is derived from
sorption,[8] which is itself a derivation from adsorption and absorption.[9]
Mechanism of action
Sorbents collect specific liquids or gases depending on the composition of the material being used in the sorbent. Some of the most common sorbents used to clean oil spills are made from materials that are both
oleophilic and
hydrophobic, have high surface area through structural designs that include
pores and capillaries, and draw in liquid through
capillary action.[1] Sorbents may be used to collect undesirable
ions and act like a reusable
ion-exchange resin, composed of charged layers of material that can be heated or otherwise treated to remove pollutants.[10] In this and similar cases, pollutant particles are attracted to the sorbent through
electrostatic forces.[11] Some sorbents chemically bind to particles through chemical adsorption, or
chemisorption; this process is often more difficult to
reverse.[12]
Examples
Sorbents come in various forms and materials, including:
Activated carbon, the most widely used sorbent, which has been known and manufactured since the 19th century,[13]
^"Odor Emission Control during Composting Cattle Manure by using Compost Deodorization and utilization of Nitrogen Enriched Compost". Nioi Kaori Kankyou Gakkaishi (in Japanese). Japan Association on Odor Environment. July 2009.
doi:
10.2171/jao.40.229.
ISSN1348-2904.