LASER TEMPERATURE-JUMP RELAXATION MEASUREMENTS OF ADSORPTION-DESORPTION KINETICS AT LIQUID-SOLID INTERFACES

The iodine laser temperature jump method is used to study adsorption/desorption kinetics at a methylated silica/solution interface. A suspension of C1-derivatized fumed silica is used for the kinetic measurements. The colloidal silica does not significantly change the attenuation of near-IR radiation from the iodine laser and allows the surface site concentration to be varied so that adsorption and desorption rates can be determined. The temperature jump relaxation method was used to investigate the effect of electrolyte on adsorption of a charged solute (ANS) on a C1 silica surface. Adsorption equilibrium conditions were optimized to observe a maximum relaxation signal. Without electrolyte, the relaxation signal is biexponential, which is also reflected in a broad chromatographic peak shape and a two-site sorption isotherm. When electrolyte is added, the relaxation signal is primarily single exponential, which agrees with the Linear adsorption isotherm. The adsorption rate and equilibrium constant were found to increase significantly with added electrolyte, which showed that adsorption kinetics can influence both band broadening and retention.