Novel methods of characterisation of carbon surfaces by flow adsorption microcalorimetry

Surface properties of an active carbon were studied with the use of flow adsorption microcalorimetry. The work involved simultaneous measurements of the rates of heat evolution and the amounts of adsorption of water vapour and of ammonia from a nitrogen carrier. The results indicate that water is strongly adsorbed on the carbon at low surface coverages with the heats considerably exceeding those of the heats of vapour condensation. The adsorption of ammonia from nitrogen demonstrated very high acidity of the polar sites present on the surface of the active carbon.