Physisorption of alcohols and water vapour by MCM-41, a model mesoporous adsorbent

Adsorption isotherms of methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol, butan-1-ol and water vapour have been determined on MCM-41, a model mesoporous adsorbent. The isotherms of the alcohols are all of Type IV, whereas the water isotherm is of Type V in the IUPAC classification. Each adsorption isotherm exhibits a sharp step, indicative of capillary condensation within a narrow distribution of mesopores. The isotherms are reversible in the monolayer-multilayer region, but distinctive hysteresis loops are associated with the condensation-evaporation cycle. The area within the loop is dependent on the adsorptive, increasing in scale from methanol to butan-1-ol and water. It is evident that the large internal surface of MCM-41 is somewhat hydrophobic and that its mesopore structure is remarkably uniform and stable.