HIGH RESOLUTION GAS ADSORPTION STUDY ON ILLITES PERMUTED WITH VARIOUS CATIONS ASSESSMENT OF SURFACE ENERGETIC PROPERTIES

ABSTRACT

Ar and N₂ high resolution adsorption volumetry coupled to the Derivative Isotherm Simulation method was applied on nine homoionic illite samples (Li ?, Na ? K ? Rb ? Cs ? Mg ? Ca ? Sr ? and Ba ? illites). By comparing the adsorption isotherms it appears that the nature of the surface cation strongly influences the adsorption mechanisms.

The lateral and basal surface areas can only be derived from argon adsorption on monovalent samples. The argon adsorption energies varv with the nature of the surface compensating cation. Both cation size and electronegativity are involved. These interactions can, in first approach, be expressed in terms of surface tensionsγ_sv ^LW. Specific interactions appear when nitrogen is used revealing high energy adsorption sites located on basal faces. These sites could be related to some polar properties of the surface.     

Assessment of the surface areas of silica and clay in acid-leached clay materials using concepts of adsorption on heterogeneous surfaces

Two clays of the areas of Kaélé and Kousseri (extreme North Cameroon) containing mainly smectites and minor amounts of kaolinite were activated with sulfuric acid (1 to 8 N). Crystal-chemical properties were studied using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and chemical analysis, while textural properties were analyzed by step-by-step nitrogen adsorption at 77 K and low-pressure quasi-equilibrium argon adsorption at 77 K. As is generally observed, smectite is more sensitive to acid leaching than kaolinite. As a result of smectite decomposition, amorphous Al-containing silica forms, leading to an increase in the specific surface area of the leached materials. The content of the clay minerals and amorphous silica can be estimated on the basis of changes in the chemical composition of the samples upon acid leaching. As far as adsorption energy distributions derived from low-pressure argon derivative adsorption isotherms are concerned, the main modifications occur when 1 N sulfuric acid is used, due to the replacement of calcium and sodium compensating cations by protons. When higher acid concentrations are used, variations in adsorption energy distribution can be assigned to the presence of amorphous silica. It was possible to model experimental adsorption energy distributions as weighted sums of argon adsorption energy distributions obtained on (i) 1 N samples representing protonated clays and (ii) a silica gel used as a reference aluminous silica. Using such an approach, increasing acid concentration results in an increase in the surface area of silica, whereas the surface area of the remaining clay minerals remains roughly constant.     

Counterion and surface density dependence of the adsorption layer of ionic surfactants at the vapor-aqueous solution interface: a computer simulation study

To test the validity of currently used adsorption theories and understand the origin of the lack of their ability of adequately describing existing surface tension measurement data, we have performed a series of molecular dynamics simulations of the adsorption layer of alkali decyl sulfate at the vapor/aqueous solution interface. The simulations have been performed with five different cations (i.e., Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+) at two different surface concentrations (i.e., 2 micromol/m2 and 4 micromol/m2). The obtained results clearly show that the thickness of the outer Helmholtz plate, a key quantity of the various adsorption theories, depends on two parameters, that is, the size of the cations and the surface density of the anionic surfactant. Namely, with increasing surface concentration, the electrostatic attraction between the two, oppositely charged, layers becomes stronger, leading to a considerable shrinking of the outer Helmholtz plate. Furthermore, this layer is found to be thicker in the presence of larger cations. The former effect could be important in understanding the anomalous shape of the adsorption isotherms of alkali alkyl sulfate surfactants, while the second effect seems to be essential in explaining the cation specificity of these isotherms.     

Assessment of surface heterogeneity of calcite and apatite: from high resolution gas adsorption to the solid–liquid interface

The surface heterogeneity of calcite and apatite was investigated by high resolution adsorption isotherms of argon and nitrogen. The use of the derivative isotherm summation procedure reveals the presence of high energy adsorption sites for nitrogen molecules. These sites are assigned to surface calciums and monohydrogenophosphate groups for calcite and apatite respectively. The comparison of gas adsorption results with experiments at solid–liquid interfaces shows that nitrogen probes the same surface sites as benzoic acid on calcite and decylammonium chloride on apatite.     

Adsorption of Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ onto amorphous hydrous manganese dioxide from simple (1-1) electrolyte solutions

The adsorption of Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ onto amorphous hydrous manganese dioxide (delta-MnO2) has been studied using two methods, viz., isotherms at constant pH in the presence of buffer solution and pH variation in the absence of buffer solution from a fixed metal ion concentration. While the adsorption isotherm experiments were carried out in 0.5 M NaCl only, pH variation or batch titration experiments were carried out in 0.5 M NaCl, 0.01 M NaCl, and 0.01 M KNO3 solutions. The complex nature of adsorption isotherms at constant pH values indicates that adsorption of all the cations is non-Langmuirian (Freundlich) and takes place on the highly heterogeneous oxide surface with different binding energies. The proton stoichiometry derived from isotherms at two close pH values varies between 0.3 and 0.8. The variation of fractional adsorption with pH indicates that the background electrolyte solution influences the adsorption of cations through either metal-like or ligand-like complexes with Cl-, the former showing a low adsorption tendency. The proton stoichiometry values derived from the Kurbatov-type plot varies not only with the electrolyte solution but also with the adsorbate/adsorbent ratio. The variation of fractional adsorption with pH can be modeled either with the formation of the SOM+ type or with a combination of SOM+ and SOMOH type complexes, depending upon the cation and electrolyte medium. The equilibrium constants obtained from Kurbatov-type plots are found to be most suitable in these model calculations. Adsorption calculated on the basis of ternary surface metal-chlorocomplex formation exhibits very low values.     

Surface modification of TiO2 nanoparticles with AHAPS aminosilane: distinction between physisorption and chemisorption

This paper addresses the surface modification of TiO₂ nanoparticles with n-(6-aminohexyl)aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AHAPS) using various initial aminosilane concentrations. The main objective of this article is to show experimentally the importance of the physisorption during the grafting process. The distinction between chemisorbed and physisorbed aminosilane molecules on TiO₂ is thoroughly analyzed. The surface of bare and modified TiO₂ particles has been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to gain a better understanding of the adsorption mechanism of AHAPS on TiO₂. Quantitative information on surface energy of TiO₂, in terms of adsorption energy sites and heterogeneity, has been investigated by quasi-equilibrium low-pressure adsorption technique using nitrogen and argon as probe molecules. The FTIR and XPS data are combined to estimate and discuss the chemisorbed and physisorbed contribution. The results demonstrate that both physisorption and chemisorption occurs but they display a different behavior. The physisorbed amounts are much higher than the chemisorbed amounts. This shows that the main part of the adsorbed layer is composed of physisorbed molecules. The physisorbed uptake depends highly on the AHAPS concentration while the chemisorbed amount remains constant. Quasi-equilibrium Ar derivative adsorption isotherms reveal that the AHAPS molecules are mostly located on the {101} and {001} faces of titania and that the two faces display the same reactivity toward AHAPS sorption. Nitrogen adsorption experiments show that the sorption takes place on the three polar surface sites of high energy. The molecules are chemisorbed onto the site displaying the highest energy while they are physisorbed on the two lower energy sites.     

A single-site model for divalent transition and heavy metal adsorption over a range of metal concentrations

Metal adsorption data over a range of surface coverages typically are characterized by curvilinear metal adsorption isotherms. These isotherms generally have a slope of 1 at low surface coverage and a shallower slope at higher surface coverages. The curvature of metal adsorption isotherms with increasing surface coverage is frequently interpreted in terms of sequential adsorption onto different types of surface sites, multinuclear surface complexation, or nonideality of metal adsorption. We demonstrate that the curvature of metal adsorption isotherms can also be attributed to changes in surface charge and potential that depend on the predominant type of metal surface complex. A single-site extended triple-layer model is used to reinterpret previously studied metal adsorption isotherms and pH edges for a wide variety of metals (Cd2+, Co2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, and Zn2+) and solids (goethite, hydrous ferric oxide, corundum, and magnetite) in different electrolyte solutions (NaNO3 and NaClO4). Only metal adsorption on ferrihydrite at very low surface coverages is not consistent with the single-site triple-layer model. This discrepancy might be explained if ferrihydrite is in fact not a single phase but a mixture of two or more phases. Metal surface coverages ranging from 10(-4) to 10.2 mmol/m2 on the other minerals can be accounted for with a single-site extended triple-layer model if appropriate metal adsorption reactions are chosen. In addition, several examples suggest that, within the context of the model, surface complexation schemes can be established that describe metal adsorption over both a wide range of surface coverage and a wide range of ionic strength.     

Explanation of the unusual peak of calorimetric heat in the adsorption of nitrogen, argon and methane on graphitized thermal carbon black

Heats of adsorption and adsorption isotherms of argon, nitrogen and methane on a perfect graphitic surface and a defective graphitic surface are studied with a Grand Canonical Monte Carlo Simulation (GCMC). For the perfect surface, the isosteric heat versus loading shows a typical pattern of adsorption of simple fluids on graphite. Depending on adsorbate, degree of graphitization and temperature, a spike in the heat curve versus loading is observed when the first layer is mostly covered with adsorbate molecules. The heat spike is observed for argon and nitrogen at 77 K while for argon at 87.3 K it is no longer present. These simulation results are consistent with the experimental data of J. Rouquerol, S. Partyka and F. Rouquerol, J. Chem. Soc., Faraday Trans. 1, 1977, 73, 306. In the case of methane we observe heat spikes at low temperatures, 84.5, 92.5 and 104 K. The heat spike shifts to higher loading with temperature and it then disappears at high temperatures. These observations are in qualitative agreement with the experimental data of A. Inaba, Y. Koga and J. A. Morrison, J. Chem. Soc., Faraday Trans. 2, 1986, 82, 1635. In all cases where heat spikes are observed, the GCMC simulation results indicate that the heat spike is associated with the squeezing of molecules into the already dense first layer, and the rearrangement of molecules to form a highly structured fluid of this layer. While this squeezing into the first layer is happening, molecules continue to adsorb onto the relatively sparse second layer.     

Adsorption Isotherm Studies on Titanium Carbide Powders

We have used adsorption isotherms to perform a comparative study of the substrate quality of five groups of titanium carbide powder, manufactured following different procedures. The isotherms were measured in an automated setup at 77.3 K using methane and argon as the adsorbates. We determined the specific surface area of each of the powders studied. We also determined whether or not there was evidence of steps (indicative of layer-by-layer adsorption) in each set of adsorption data. The isothermal compressibilities of the adsorbed films were determined from the data measured for each sample. Adsorption measurements were also conducted to determine the effect that heating the powders under vacuum had on the resulting substrate quality.     

Modeling of adsorption of gases on graphite surfaces accounting for the solid-fluid nonadditivity correction

A series of graphitized carbon blacks have been studied using argon and nitrogen adsorption at their boiling points. Analysis of adsorption isotherms was performed with nonlocal density functional theory (NLDFT) accounting for the Axilrod-Teller equation to describe the effect of nonadditivity of the gas-solid interaction. In our previous study [Ustinov, E. A. J. Chem. Phys. 2010, 132, 194703] we have shown that the nonadditivity effect decreases the attractive component of Ar-Ar interaction in the first molecular layer adjacent to the graphite surface by about 23%. This is a source of a large error (up to 40%) when a standard NLDFT is applied to fitting the low-temperature Ar adsorption isotherm on a graphitized carbon black. A new approach that incorporates the Axilrod-Teller equation into the standard NLDFT diminishes the relative error from 40 to 4%, which suggests that the nonadditivity correction should not be ignored in most adsorption systems including crystalline and amorphous solids. The present study is an extension of our approach to N(2) adsorption isotherms at 77.3 K on graphitized carbon blacks. We show that the approach allows to reliably determine the gas-solid molecular parameters, the gas-solid nonadditivity coefficient, the Henry coefficient, and the specific surface area. The surface areas of different carbon blacks determined with the N(2) at 77.35 K and Ar at 87.29 K are very close to each other, though in the former case the values proved to be slightly smaller presumably due to nonspherical shape of the nitrogen molecule. A comparison with the Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller method is provided.     

Investigation of activated carbon surface heterogeneity by argon and nitrogen low-pressure quasi-equilibrium volumetry

Surface heterogeneity can be assessed by adsorption of different gaseous probes on solid materials. In the present study, four types of activated carbons were analyzed by classical N2 Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) measurements and by low-pressure quasi-equilibrium volumetry (LPQEV) (Villieras, F.; Michot, L. J.; Bardot, F.; Cases, J. M.; Francois, M.; Rudzinski, W. Langmuir 1997, 13, 1104). Three methods of data evaluation were applied: (a) the Frenkel-Halsey-Hill method for estimation of fractal dimensions from BET data, (b) the Horwath-Kawazoe method to calculate the pore size distribution from LPQEV Ar and N2 adsorption isotherms, and (c) the derivative isotherm summation (DIS) method to describe the solid's surface heterogeneity by a concept of local derivative isotherms. Similar Ar and N2 adsorption energy distributions were obtained on all carbons, which indicates the presence of mainly nonpolar surfaces. When adsorption was described by the van der Waals equation, the ratio between the interaction energy of different energetic sites with argon and nitrogen was 0.88. This value corresponded very well with a slope obtained when Ar and N2 positions of local isotherms by the DIS method were compared. This relationship has an important impact because it enables one to constrain the modeling of local isotherms. This study, besides the surface information, showed large possibilities of the DIS method for the surface analysis not only in terms of solid heterogeneity characterization but also in terms of polarity assessment.     

Morphology and surface heterogeneities in synthetic goethites

In the framework on a study of the acido-basic and sorption properties of iron oxides, a thorough characterization of two types of goethite powders was performed in several laboratories joined in a common project. Chemical analysis by ICPAES; high-resolution SEM, TEM, and AFM observations; XRD with line width analysis; and argon and nitrogen sorption isotherms were used for that purpose. The main crystallographic faces of goethite particles could be identified as {001}, {101}, and {121}, and their abundance correlated with the distribution of low-pressure argon adsorption local isotherms. These results will be very useful for further studies on the relationship between surface reactivity in aqueous solution and orientation of solid surfaces.     

The effects of energy sites on adsorption of Lennard-Jones fluids and phase transition in carbon slit pore of finite length a computer simulation study

A Monte Carlo simulation method is used to study the effects of adsorption strength and topology of sites on adsorption of simple Lennard-Jones fluids in a carbon slit pore of finite length. Argon is used as a model adsorbate, while the adsorbent is modeled as a finite carbon slit pore whose two walls composed of three graphene layers with carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal pattern. Impurities having well depth of interaction greater than that of carbon atom are assumed to be grafted onto the surface. Different topologies of the impurities; corner, centre, shell and random topologies are studied. Adsorption isotherms of argon at 87.3 K are obtained for pore having widths of 1, 1.5 and 3 nm using a Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulation (GCMC). These results are compared with isotherms obtained for infinite pores. It is shown that the surface heterogeneity affects significantly the overall adsorption isotherm, particularly the phase transition. Basically it shifts the onset of adsorption to lower pressure and the adsorption isotherms for these four impurity models are generally greater than that for finite pore. The positions of impurities on solid surface also affect the shape of the adsorption isotherm and the phase transition. We have found that the impurities allocated at the centre of pore walls provide the greatest isotherm at low pressures. However when the pressure increases the impurities allocated along the edges of the graphene layers show the most significant effect on the adsorption isotherm. We have investigated the effect of surface heterogeneity on adsorption hysteresis loops of three models of impurity topology, it shows that the adsorption branches of these isotherms are different, while the desorption branches are quite close to each other. This suggests that the desorption branch is either the thermodynamic equilibrium branch or closer to it than the adsorption branch.     

Study of cetyltrimethylammonium and cetylpyridinium adsorption on montmorillonite

Adsorption of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA) and cetylpyridinium (CP) onto Na-rich montmorillonite (MMT) was studied. For this purpose, the adsorption isotherms of CTA and CP, along with desorption curves of metal cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+), were obtained by means of capillary isotachophoresis and atomic absorption spectrometry. Infrared, X-ray diffraction pattern, specific surface area, porosity, and moisture adsorption measurements of montmorillonite revealed that CTA and CP were adsorbed in monolayer arrangements. CTA is assumed to be attached to the negatively charged MMT surface mainly by electrostatic forces. On the other hand, CP, adsorbed in higher amounts, can be additionally bound via other interactions of pyridinium rings, such as induced and pi-pi interactions. By the surfactant adsorption, the montmorillonite surface became hydrophobic and its micro- and mesopores were significantly diminished. Using scanning electron microscopy, aggregation of such organically modified MMT particles was observed.     

Computer simulation of the adsorption of light gases in covalent organic frameworks

Grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations of argon, hydrogen, and methane adsorption in four covalent organic frameworks are presented. Argon adsorption isotherms from computer simulations overestimate the amount adsorbed by 25% upon saturation, with respect to the available experiments at T = 87 K. Hydrogen adsorption isotherms show that these materials might attain a 30% increase for the uptake when compared with analogous simulations performed for metal organic frameworks at T = 77 K and T = 298 K. Methane adsorption isotherms give a strong indication that at least one material in this class, COF-102, could meet or exceed the Department of Energy's target of 180 cm3 (STP)/cm3 for P = 35 bar and room temperature. The origin of this large affinity for methane is investigated by analyzing the structure of the potential energy surface of interaction between the adsorbate and the adsorbent.     

Comparative features of ar adsorption on smooth and amorphous surfaces examined by density functional theory

We analyze argon adsorption isotherms and isosteric heat of adsorption on graphitized and nongraphitized carbon black and silica surfaces by means of nonlocal density functional theory (NLDFT). It is shown that in the case of graphitized carbon black the behavior of the adsorbed phase is nearly identical to that in the bulk phase at a distance larger than about 3-4 molecular diameters from the surface. At a smaller distance argon forms solid-like molecular layers at a temperature at least 3.5 K above the triple point, with the interlayer distance being markedly smaller than the argon collision diameter. In the case of defected or amorphous surfaces adsorbed argon is liquid-like below its triple point. Our extension of the Tarazona NLDFT to amorphous solids (NLDFT-AS) and the Kierlik and Rosinberg version of NLDFT excellently fit argon adsorption isotherms and properly predict the isosteric heat of adsorption. We showed that the surface roughness affects the calculated heat of adsorption, which allowed us to adjust the width of the diffuse zone of the nongraphitized carbon black and the silica surface.     

Adsorption of Pesticides on Soil Components

The adsorption of two pesticides (2,4-phenoxy acetic acid (2,4D) and thiabendazol) on silica, alumina, kaolin and montmorillonite is studied from adsorption isotherms and enthalpies. 2,4D is not adsorbed by silica, kaolinite and montmorillonite even in the presence of 0.01 mol l?1 divalent cations. On alumina, the energy of adsorption is comparable with that of the formation of an acid-base complex. Thiabendazol can be adsorbed on silica and clays from an ethanol solution. Most adsorption isotherms are of the Langmuir type and correspond to roughly constant adsorption enthalpies as a function of coverage except for kaolin where adsorption on both lateral and basal faces can be involved. Adsorption after introducing humic acids to the system was also studied for kaolin.     

The ionic strength effect on microcystin and natural organic matter surrogate adsorption onto PAC

This work aims to contribute to a better understanding of the ionic strength effect on microcystin and natural organic matter (NOM) surrogate adsorption by analyzing the importance of adsorbate molecular size, and surface concentration. Adsorption kinetics and/or isotherms were performed on PAC Norit SA-UF for four microcystin variants (MC-LR, MC-LY, MC-LW, MC-LF), and three NOM surrogates (salicylic acid (SA), tannic acid (TA), Aldrich humic acid (AHA)) at different solution ionic strengths. Results showed that the ionic strength effect depends upon the adsorbate surface concentration, cation charge (mono or divalent), and adsorbate molecular size. Potassium seemed not to affect the MC-LR adsorption, while calcium enhanced MC-LR kinetics and adsorption capacity. K+ and, particularly, Ca2+ improved the adsorption kinetics of the other microcystin variants. For identical surface concentration and ionic strength, the impact of K+ and Ca2+ on NOM surrogates depended on the adsorbate molecular size: K+ effect was only observed for AHA, whereas Ca2+ caused no effect on SA adsorption, slightly enhanced TA adsorption, and greatly enhanced AHA adsorption. MC-LR isotherms with two salt concentrations (KCl or CaCl2) indicated that, for the studied range of equilibrium surface concentration (5.3-18.7 mg/g), an enhanced adsorption regime prevails, and no transition regime was observed.     

AFM and low-pressure argon adsorption analysis of geometrical properties of phyllosilicates

The distribution of edge and basal surface areas of phyllosilicate particles is an essential parameter for understanding the interaction mechanisms at solid/gas or solid/liquid interfaces. Among the techniques proposed to determine the geometrical heterogeneities of flat solids, low-pressure argon adsorption and AFM analysis are the most promising to derive the weight-averaged values of specific surface areas. A series of publications have recently been dedicated to the combination of both methods showing the correlation between the two approaches. As obtaining a large set of high-resolution AFM images is time-consuming, it is necessary to test the ability of AFM routine analysis to derive surface areas and aspect ratio systematically and statistically, with all possible experimental and instrumental artefacts. In the present study, the expected agreement was found between AFM and argon adsorption determination for total, basal, and edge-specific surface areas of nonswelling clay minerals, except for one kaolinite, which is very heterogeneous in size. In addition, it was observed that for a given sample, individual particles present similar shapes, whatever their size, making it possible to derive a statistical relationship between AFM basal and total surface areas. On the basis of the obtained results, recommendations are given to derive accurate edge, basal, and total specific surface areas of phyllosilicates by combining conventional gas adsorption (nitrogen BET) and routine AFM techniques.     

Microcalorimetric study of argon,oxygen, nitrogen and carbon monoxide adsorption on crystalline zirconia

The adsorption of argon, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon monoxide at 77 K on crystalline zirconia and microporous zirconia gels has been studied by adsorption volumetry and isothermal microcalorimetry.The microporous structure of the zirconia gel may explain the higher enthalpy of adsorption obtained for argon. Both crystalline samples are mesoporous and in each case, the polar sites on the surface give specific interactions with dipolar (CO) or quadrupolar (N₂, O₂) molecules, which can be deduced from the adsorption isotherms and the corresponding differential enthalpy curves.M. J. T. acknowledges for a 2 month invited professorship at Université de Provence.