Inorganic organic composite materials as absorbers for organic solvents

Abstract

Inorganic organic composite materials have been developed in the form of non-porous films on various substrates and as porous materials with specific surface areas of about 700 m²/g. Both types of materials have been tested for absorption and adsorption of solvents from the gas phase (butyric acetate, benzene, toluene and xylene). The results show that the non-porous films could be loaded with solvents up to 30 wt.% and unloaded at 130°C within a few minutes. The porous materials could be loaded up to 38 wt.% The kinetics of desorption are slowed down to values of some hours, being however still fast compared to activated carbon. Adsorption in wet atmospheres do not affect adsorption capcity but leads to a decrease of adsorption kinetics due to a slowing down of the diffusion or a replacement of H2O against solvent within the pores.