Equilibrium Isotherms

Equilibrium isotherms describe the relationship between the amount of a substance (like a gas or liquid) absorbed onto a surface and its concentration or pressure in the surrounding environment at a fixed temperature. Essentially, they show how much of the substance is held by the surface when the system reaches a balance, where the rate of absorption equals the rate of desorption. These curves help us understand and predict how materials will behave in processes like filtration, adsorption, and chromatography, providing valuable information for designing and optimizing industrial and environmental systems.