Theory of measurement of gas-adsorption equilibria by rotational oscillations

The gas adsorbed on the inner surface of a highly porous material like activated carbon or zeolite can be measured by slow damped oscillations of a torsional pendulum. The physical principles and the theory of this method are outlined. Formulas are given relating the increase in mass due to adsorption to changes of the frequency and the logarithmic decrement of slow, damped rotational oscillations of the pendulum. Preliminary measurements of gas adsorption equilibria of nitrogen on activated carbon show that the ratio of the mass adsorbedm, to the mass of the adsorbentm^s, can be determined by this method with mean absolute error |m/m^s|0.04%.Dedicated to the memory of Joseph Kestin (1913–1993).