Low pressure hysteresis in the adsorption of organic vapours by porous carbons

This paper summarizes the results of experiments carried out over the past 15 years in which low-pressure hysteresis in the adsorption of organic vapours by porous carbons has been observed. These collected data provide substantial support for the hypothesis that low pressure hysteresis in these systems is associated with the intercalation of molecules of adsorbate in narrow pore spaces leading to irreversible changes in the pore structure. Attention is drawn to the close parallels between this type of hysteresis, in which deformation of the pore structure by adsorption forces exceeds the elastic limit of the porous medium, and stress-strain hysteresis in solids brought about by forces applied externally.