Open AccessTHE EFFECT OF PHYSICAL ADSORPTION ON THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF ACTIVE CARBON
Author(s) -
W. W. Smeltzer,
Anthony R. McIntosh
Publication year - 1953
Publication title -
canadian journal of chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.323
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1480-3291
pISSN - 0008-4042
DOI - 10.1139/v53-159
Subject(s) - adsorption , chemistry , hydrocarbon , carbon fibers , electrical resistance and conductance , molecule , chloride , electrical resistivity and conductivity , active carbon , oxygen , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , materials science , composite material , environmental protection , environmental science , composite number , electrical engineering , engineering
The change of the electrical resistance of active carbon rods due to the reversible adsorption of vapors is described. The effects of six saturated hydrocarbons and ethyl chloride were studied. An interesting regularity in the results obtained with the hydrocarbons was found, namely that the extent of the resistance change at a given temperature and volume adsorbed is proportional to the number of carbon atoms in the adsorbate molecule. The alteration of the electrical conductivity of the active carbon by the physically adsorbed vapors and the adsorption isotherms are not modified by small quantities of chemisorbed oxygen. Ethyl chloride exhibits a more complex behavior than the hydrocarbons. It is argued that the resistance measurements may be utilized to support the viewpoint that physically adsorbed saturated hydrocarbon molecules tend to lie flat on the adsorbent surface. Several possible explanations of the findings are examined and proved to be inadequate.
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