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Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis

Freundlich Adsorption Isotherm

An empirical relation describing adsorption on heterogeneous surfaces with a distribution of site energies.

Formula / equation x/m = k p^(1/n)
Unit mol/g

In depth

With n greater than one, the equation gives a curve that fits intermediate-pressure data well but has no saturation limit, so it fails at very high pressures. Plotting the logarithm of adsorbed amount against the logarithm of pressure yields a straight line from which k and n are obtained.

Examples in the real world

Acetic acid adsorbing onto activated charcoal from aqueous solution.