New composite sorbent CaCl2 in mesopores for sorption cooling/heating

New working material CaCl2, confined to mesoporous host matrix MCM-41 is synthesised and studied keeping in mind its application for the sorption cooling/heating. For this mesoporous system the isobars, isosters and isotherms of the water sorption are obtained at the temperatures 293-423 K and the vapour partial pressures 8.7-50.3 mbar. The water sorption is found to be a combination of a liquid absorption and a heterogeneous adsorption. The obtained results evidence the considerable change of the salt properties due to its confinement to the MCM-41 nanopores. A brief comparison of this sorbent with a pure silica gel for the cooling/heating application is made. (C) 2002 editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.