Preferential adsorption from binary mixtures of short chain n-alkanes; theoctane-decane system

Citation
Ma. Castro et al., Preferential adsorption from binary mixtures of short chain n-alkanes; theoctane-decane system, J PHYS CH B, 105(36), 2001, pp. 8577-8582
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Physical Chemistry/Chemical Physics
Journal title
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
ISSN journal
15206106 → ACNP
Volume
105
Issue
36
Year of publication
2001
Pages
8577 - 8582
Database
ISI
SICI code
1520-6106(20010913)105:36<8577:PAFBMO>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
The competitive adsorption of the alkanes n-octane and n- decane adsorbed f rom the binary liquid mixture onto graphite has been studied using differen tial scanning calorimetry (DSC), neutron diffraction, and incoherent quasi- elastic neutron Scattering (IQNS). A solid monolayer is identified at all b ulk solution compositions with a melting temperature that varies with bulk composition in a manner resembling the bulk behavior. The IQNS data indicat es that decane is preferentially adsorbed onto the surface over most of the composition range, as expected. However, octane can coexist on the surface with decane and even becomes the principal component at high octane concen trations. When both alkanes are present on the surface, diffraction indicat es that the surface phase is not a mixed crystal, but consists of regions o f pure octane and regions of pure decane. The failure of these two compound s to mix on the surface is shown to have its origin in the structures of th e monolayers of the pure components.