Mechanism of butanol adsorption from solution. 1. Calorimetric measurements

The heat effects associated with the adsorption and subsequent desorption p rocesses of butanol from n-hexane as well as from other solvents on a numbe r of sorbents are studied by microcalorimetry. Different possible mechanism s of the adsorption process are considered in order to explain the experime ntally observed differences between the heats of adsorption and desorption. It is shown that our data support the idea of association affected adsorpt ion. It is also argued that the adsorption process is likely to occur in tw o steps. Our hypothesis has been supported by the measurements of adsorptio n and desorption heat effects from solvents that hinder alcohol association . A simple theoretical explanation of the observed heat effects has been pr oposed.