Nitrogen physisorption on a columnar carbonaceous solid

Grand canonical ensemble Monte Carlo computer simulation is employed to obt ain the adsorption isotherms of nitrogen, at 77.5 K, on a columnar carbonac eous material. The solid constructed is based on the Bernal model. At moder ate equilibrium pressures, the intercolumnar space is filled with nitrogen in a liquidlike state. The distributions of molecules with respect to gas-s olid and gas-gas interaction energies are analyzed. The role played by quad rupolar interactions is discussed. The supersite theory of adsorption appli ed to this system gives a good description of the simulation results.