Applications of Adsorption :

Catalyses gaseous phase reaction like Hydrogenation ( reduction of fatty oils), Oxidation etc ( Contact Process Oxidation of SO2 to SO3) Quantitative separation of two or more substances from a mixture Purification of substances from their contaminants Concentration of solutes in dilute solutions. Water Treatment Zeolite process - converts hard water to soft water Demineralization process- converts hard water to DM water.

Chromatography Chromatography is a technique used for identification, isolation and purification of simple and complex organic molecules which closely resemble in their chemical properties Example: isomers, amino acids etc., The principle behind this technique is adsorption. In the process the adsorbent (solid / liquid) becomes stationary phase and the adsorbate (gas / liquid / ion) is the mobile phase. Based on the adsorbent physical states, chromatography may be (1) column chromatography - solid adsorbent (2) Partition chromatography - liquid adsorbent If the adsorbate is gas and the adsorbent is solid then the technique is called Gas column chromatography (GC). If the adsorbate is gas and the adsorbent is liquid then the technique is called Gas liquid chromatography (GLC).

Dr.V.S.Gayathri & Dr.K.Yamuna

26th Sep .2008

Column Chromatography Aim: To separate mixture of amino acids HOOC CH NH2

X A: X= H Glycine HOOC CH2 NH2

B: X= CH3

Alanine HOOC CH NH2

CH3

C: X = C6H5CH2

Phenyl alanine HOOC CH NH2

CH2C 6 H5

Let A, B & C be three amino acids present in a solution, their properties will be similar, but adsorption character and solubility will be different. Solubility is inversely proportional to branching and adsorption is directly proportional to branching Hence the order of adsorption of the above amino acids will be C>B>A So separation can be effectively carried out using a column chromatography. Working Step1: Loading of column (i.e.) pouring the mixture of amino acid into a properly packed column. Stationary phase - column- solid adsorbent ex. Silica gel / alumina / powdered activated carbon / granular activated carbon

Dr.V.S.Gayathri & Dr.K.Yamuna

26th Sep .2008

Mobile phase: solution containing the mixture of amino acids Adsorbate: amino acids (solute) Step 2: Adsorption of solute (i.e.) separation Step3: Development of chromatogram (i.e.) increasing the distance between the adsorbed solute in order to make the process of separation effective. This is done by elution. Either the same solvent or a different solvent can be used as an eluent Step 4: Isolation. By repeated elution, the amino acids can be collected separately in different containers.

Dr.V.S.Gayathri & Dr.K.Yamuna

26th Sep .2008

Ion Exchange Chromatography: Refer Water Technology Notes

Purification of Water Using Zeolite: Zeolite is a naturally occurring porous rock made up of oxides of sodium / Potassium oxide along with alumina and silica The general formula for zeolite is Na2O . Al2O3 . x SiO2 . y.H2O (x ranges from 2 10 and y from 2 6) Natroloite which is commonly used zeolite is Na2O . Al2O3 . 4 SiO2 . 2.H2O. Water containing hardness causing ions is allowed to pass through the zeolite bed slowly. During the downward flow of water the hardness causing ions in water gets exchanged with sodium ions of zeolite. Zeolite bed adsorbs hardness causing ions. Na2Ze + Hard water Ca2+ / Mg2+ Ca Ze + Soft water Na+ Regeneration: When the bed is exhausted it is treated with 10% NaCl solution (brine) Ca Ze + 2NaCl Na2Ze + CaCl2 Other Industrial (commercial) Applications of Adsorption Gas mask: The gas mask contains one or a series of adsorbent layers, which adsorbs the toxic gas present in air and thus purifying air. Commonly used adsorbents are activated charcoal, silica and alumina When polluted air pass through the layers of adsorbent in the mask first moisture (647K) closely followed by SO2 (430), NH3 (405), CO2 (304) gets adsorbed as their Tc is in decreasing order. Production of high vacuum: If a partially evacuated vessel is connected to a container filled with animal charcoal, cooled by liquid air, then all the air in the partially evacuated chamber is adsorbed by
Dr.V.S.Gayathri & Dr.K.Yamuna 4 26th Sep .2008

charcoal, creating high vacuum. Silica gel can also be used instead of charcoal. This type of vacuum is created in Dewar flask. Blast Furnace: Silica gel is used for drying air employed in blast furnace. Sugar Industry: Activated charcoal is used for removing colouring matter of sugar solution To recover solvent vapours or gases, adsorbents are used in industries. Water Purification: Activated charcoal bed is used for purifying water for the removal of organic impurities by adsorption. It also acts as filter to remove color, silt, dust, grit and suspended impurities. Medical uses: During arsenic poisoning, colloidal ferric hydroxide is administered. Ferric hydroxide adsorbs the arsenic poison and retains it and removed from the body by vomiting. Electronic industry: Silica gel packs are kept in computer and other electronic gadgets to adsorb moisture from atmospheric air, in order to minimize corrosion. Food industry: Milk powder should be dried in oxygen free atmosphere. Hence an adsorbent is used to adsorb oxygen from the dryer gas. Gas purification: Activated carbon used to remove oil vapour, odour and other hydrocarbons from compressed air or gas.

Dr.V.S.Gayathri & Dr.K.Yamuna

26th Sep .2008