Gas chromatographic, quentum-chemical, and molecular statistical studies of cluster adsorption of water and methanol molecules on hydrophilic surface sites of hydrophobic adsorbents

The comprehensive theoretical and experimental study of the adsorption of water and methanol molecules on active sites (carboxyl and phenol hydroxyl groups) on the graphitized thermal carbon black is performed. It is shown that microclusters formed upon the adsorption of these molecules on such sites are characterized by the cyclic structure comprising 4–5 molecules similar to that whose existence was revealed previously in liquid water and on the surface of silver iodide. The analysis of the studied adsorption clusters demonstrated that the formation of such cycles is governed primarily by the hydrogen bonding; however, a definite role is played also by energy effects associated with the changes in the state of molecular motion during adsorption. It is shown that the generalized Langmuir equation derived from molecular statistical considerations provides for better reproducing of the experimental isotherm within a wider surface coverage range, thus making it possible to consistently interpret data on structural and energetic characteristics of adsorption systems obtained by gas chromatography and quentum-chemical method.