What is the difference between adsorption and absorption?
Desiccant dryers operate on the principle of adsorption. Adsorption is an operation in which a gas, vapor, or liquid brought into contact with a solid is concentrated on the solid’s surfaces by the utilization of surface forces. Adsorption is a purely physical phenomenon, generally reversible, in which neither the adsorbent nor the adsorbate undergo any change in structure. Absorption is a process in which a gas, vapor, or liquid penetrates a solid structure to produce a solid solution, resulting in either a temporary or a more or less permanent chemical reaction or phase change.
