Adsorption characterisation of different volatile organic compounds over alumina, zeolites and activated carbon using inverse gas chromatography

Adsorption parameters (enthalpy of adsorption, free energy of adsorption) of several alkanes, cyclic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated compounds on different adsorbents (alumina, zeolites 13X and 5 A, and activated carbon) were determined by inverse gas chromatography. Dispersive surface energy interaction and specific interaction parameters were determined for each solute–adsorbent system. It was found that mesoporous alumina presents lower enthalpy of adsorption than the microporous materials. Furthermore, zeolite 13X, which has wider pores than zeolite 5 A, exhibits a higher adsorption capacity.