Microcalorimetric Study of Water Adsorption on Initial and Polyfluoroalkylated Silicas

Abstract

Water adsorption on initial and modified Silochrom samples was studied by the adsorption calorimetry. Integral heats of immersional wetting by water were measured simultaneously. It was shown that hydroxyl groups both free and sterically screened by a modifier remain on the modified Silochrom surface. Concentrations of these groups and OH groups chemically interacted with the modifier were estimated. The heat of reaction of water molecules with a free surface OH groups of modified sorbents was determined (≈60 kJ/mol). It was found that the modifying layers of the sorbents are getting loose under the effect of adsorbed water, and water molecules gain access to the sterically screened OH groups; the heat of water interaction with these groups is 54–55 kJ/mol. The energy is consumed for getting the modifying layers loose and the rupture of point contacts between Aerosil particles of the secondary structure of both initial and modified Silochrom that significantly affects the heat of immersion, the differential heat of adsorption, the form of the heat release curve, and the dependence of the differential heat on the adsorption value.