Glossary

Adsorption

Surface phenomenon whereby ions, atoms or molecules (called "adsorbates") in the gas or liquid phase attach themselves to a solid surface (called "adsorbent"). In the case of the methylene blue test, the methylene blue molecule will adsorb onto the solid particles of a soil or rock powder to saturate the available specific surface area. The more the material contains fine grains such as clays, or porous and/or rough grains, the higher the blue value.

Advection (and advective)

Transport of a quantity of an element by the movement of the medium in which it is found. Here, in the case of desalination, this characterizes the transport of a quantity of dissolved salt ions by the movement of the solution. A desalination compress is said to be advective if it draws the saline solution contained in the pores of...