Adsorption of nitrogen on granular activated carbon: experiment and modeling

A carbon adsorbent was produced and used to volumetrically measure nitrogen adsorption isotherms from 93 to 298 K and up to 7 MPa. The isosteric heat of adsorption was determined to range between -9.5 and -16 kJ/mol. The excess adsorption isotherms were modeled using an approach based on a modified Dubinin-Astakhov adsorption model, adapted for excess adsorption, which provided an accurate fit for all supercritical isotherms. An expression for the differential energy of adsorption as a function of pressure was developed using the Dubinin-Astakhov isotherm. The energy of adsorption for the isotherms measured was found to range from -8 to -15 kJ/mol as a function of pressure.