sorption
Molecules adhering selectively
Sorption is the process by which one substance becomes attached to another—a technical term covering both absorption (where a substance is taken into another's interior) and adsorption (where it adheres to a surface).
The term appears mainly in chemistry and materials science: Carbon filters work through sorption of contaminants.
Outermost boundary layer
- monolayerSingle-atom-thick coating
- multilayerHaving multiple strata
- isothermConstant-temperature boundary line
- porosityVoid space density
activated carbon · zeolite · silica gel · BET theory · van der Waals · bonding · affinity · selectivity
Absorption or understanding
- soakSaturate with liquid
- permeateSpread through entirely
- imbibeTo consume liquid
- assimilateAbsorb and incorporate fully
sponge · penetrate · infuse · seepage · engulf · swallow · incorporate · osmosis
Thin tissue sheet
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
- reverse osmosisPressure-driven membrane filtration
- desalinationExtracting salt from seawater
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
separation · dialysis · chromatography · retention · selectivity
Constant-temperature boundary line
- equilibriumState of balance
- kineticsScience of motion forces
- enthalpyThermodynamic total heat quantity
- hysteresisHistory-dependent system response
partitioning · exothermic · endothermic · reversibility · saturation
Light uptake measurement
- attenuationGradual intensity reduction
- photonElectromagnetic radiation unit
- infraredHeat-bearing electromagnetic waves
- ultravioletWavelengths shorter than violet
Living organisms detoxify pollutants
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- remediationAct of correcting faults
- soilGround matter for planting
groundwater · sediment · biogeochemical · heavy metals · pesticides · hydrocarbons · toxins · sequestration
surface
Outermost boundary layer
- monolayerSingle-atom-thick coating
- multilayerHaving multiple strata
- isothermConstant-temperature boundary line
porosity · activated carbon · zeolite · silica gel · BET theory · van der Waals · bonding · affinity · selectivity · capacity
uptake
Absorption or understanding
assimilate · sponge · penetrate · infuse · seepage · engulf · swallow · incorporate · osmosis · capillary
membrane
Thin tissue sheet
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
- reverse osmosisPressure-driven membrane filtration
- desalinationExtracting salt from seawater
purification · separation · dialysis · chromatography · retention · selectivity
isotherm
Constant-temperature boundary line
- equilibriumState of balance
- kineticsScience of motion forces
- enthalpyThermodynamic total heat quantity
hysteresis · partitioning · exothermic · endothermic · reversibility · saturation
absorbance
Light uptake measurement
- attenuationGradual intensity reduction
- photonElectromagnetic radiation unit
- infraredHeat-bearing electromagnetic waves
ultraviolet · spectroscopy · radiation · wavelength · transmittance
bioremediation
Living organisms detoxify pollutants
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- remediationAct of correcting faults
soil · groundwater · sediment · biogeochemical · heavy metals · pesticides · hydrocarbons · toxins · sequestration · carbon capture
absorption, absorptive, adsorption, resorption, absorptivity