absorption

Traductions

• anglais

  Date : 1983

  Définition

  The taking-up by one substance of (1) another substance (usually a liquid or a gas) (2) light or other form of radiation.
  
  Penetration of a substance into the body of another.
  
  In chemistry, the process in which one substance is taken up by another or penetrates it.
  
  In physical chemistry, this term denotes the ability of some elements to pick up or "capture" thermal neutrons produced in nuclear reactors as a result of fission. This is due to the large capture cross section of their atoms, which is measured in units called barns; elements of particularly high neutron absorption capability are cadmium and boron.
  
  The action of a solid or liquid in taking up and retaining another substance uniformly throughout its internal structure. This action may be only mechanical, such as the absorption of a liquid by a solid (as by a sponge or a cellulosic material), the liquid being recovered by controlled pressure or heat. When the absorbed material is a gas, it may dissolve in a liquid to form a solution, or enter into a chemical reaction with it to form a new compound: i.e., carbon dioxide absorbed in caustic solution forms sodium carbonate.

  Notes :

  Absorption has many applications in industry. For example by applying an absorption process to wet gas the higher hydrocarbons can be separated to provide a dry gas suitable for use as a fuel or chemical feedstock. The wet gas is passed through an absorption tower under slight pressure and the higher hydrocarbons are absorbed by a light gas oil flowing againts it. The solvent gas oil is then heated and the dissolved products removed by steam.
  
  This process can be reversed and the absorbed material recovered by the opposite reaction, called desorption or stripping.

  Terme :

  1. absorption