Connor Hewson¹, Sean McIntyre¹, Daryl Williams^,3, Paul Iacomi¹ 

¹Surface Measurement Systems UK, Wembley HA0 4PE, UK 

³Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 AZ, UK 

Email : ahanif@surfacemeasurementsystems.com , piacomi@surfacemeasurementsystems.com  

Salesperson = Yassine Nagazi, Head of Sales, French-speaking Europe

Speaker = Connor Hewson, Senior Product Specialist

Sorption science provides a critical lens for characterizing the interfacial and structural properties of complex materials. By introducing gaseous or vapor probes to a solid sorbent, researchers can gain deep insights into both surface interactions and bulk phenomena. While several methodologies exist, the three primary pillars of the field, volumetric, gravimetric, and chromatographic, each offer unique diagnostic strengths.

Gravimetric techniques, such as Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS), are prized for their high sensitivity and ease of hybridization with other analytical tools, allowing for the precise measurement of minute sorption events on small sample masses. Conversely, chromatographic methods, like Breakthrough Analysis (BTA), provide industrially relevant data by simulating « real-world » flow conditions through packed beds to measure multi-component competitive sorption. Furthermore, Inverse Gas Chromatography (IGC) serves as a powerful tool for mapping surface energy, functionality, and specific surface area—metrics that are often the primary drivers of material performance and formulation stability.

Recognizing that no single method is exhaustive, this presentation advocates for a complementary, multi-technique approach. We will explore the synergy of these methods through a series of diverse case studies, including :

• Pharmaceutical Characterization : Utilizing DVS hyphenated with Raman or NIR spectroscopy to monitor phase transitions.

• Environmental Remediation : Capturing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) using DVS, DVS Vacuum, and BTA to evaluate sorbent efficiency.

• Sustainability & Carbon Capture : Assessing novel carbon-capture materials through specialized DVS Carbon and BTA protocols.

• Interfacial Science : Applying IGC to quantify surface energy and its impact on material processing.

Through these examples, we demonstrate how integrating disparate sorption data provides a holistic understanding of materials across the pharmaceutical, polymer, and porous media industries.