2. Fundamental aspects

2.1 Two types of solid sorption

Solid sorption is the process by which molecules of a fluid (gas or liquid), called a sorbent, attach themselves to the surface of a solid, called a sorbent. In refrigeration and heat pump applications, the sorbent is the refrigerant. By the surface of the solid, we mean the external and internal surfaces created by the network of pores and cavities inside the sorbent.

There are two types of sorption process: physical sorption and chemical sorption.

In physical sorption, adsorbate molecules attach to the adsorbent surface, mainly via van der Waals forces and electrostatic polarization interactions. We speak of adsorption, adsorbate and adsorbent. Adsorption occurs without modification of the adsorbent...