Determination of isotherms by gas–solid chromatography: Applications

This literature review of the fundamental developments in gas–solid adsorption isotherms includes articles published from 1933 until now. Analytical and numerical methods used for calculating the adsorption energy distribution function, as a quantitative measure of surface heterogeneity, are included. Special attention is paid to inverse gas chromatography (IGC) and more precisely to a new version of IGC known as reversed-flow gas chromatography (RF-IGC or RF-GC). RF-GC is presented as a quick, precise and effective method to investigate physicochemical properties of different kinds of adsorbents, through adsorption isotherms and related energetic parameter determinations. Advantages of the RF-GC method over traditional chromatographic methods are discussed.