Application of comparative method for estimating microporosity of porous solids in adsorption from solutions

The concept of a comparative method in terms of the liquid adsorption on so lids is presented. This method is based on comparison of the excess adsorpt ion isotherm on a porous solid with that measured on a reference nonporous adsorbent. It is proved that proposed approach gives the possibility for se parating a total excess adsorption isotherm into partial isotherms, proper for micro- and mesopores. Several experimental systems are analyzed to illu strate the usefulness of the comparative method for evaluating the surface phase capacity, which presents an important quantity in the study of adsorp tion from solution in the whole concentration region. The comparative metho d examined for adsorption systems of microporous active carbons seems to be useful for investigating other porous materials as silica gels, zeolites o r metal oxides.