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Sorption isotherms describe the relation between the equilibrium moisture content of a material and the ambient relative humidity. Most materials exhibits sorption hysteresis, that is, desorption give higher equilibrium moisture contents than absorption at equal ambient climate conditions. Sorption hysteresis is commonly evaluated by determination of an absorption isotherm followed by desorption starting from the highest relative humidity used in the absorption measurement (typically 95%). The latter is often interpreted as the desorption isotherm but is in fact a scanning isotherm, i.e. an isotherm obtained from neither dry nor water-saturated state. In the present study, we investigated the difference between desorption isotherms and scanning isotherms determined by desorption from different high relative humidity levels reached by absorption and how this difference influenced the evaluation of sorption hysteresis. The measurements were performed on Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) using automated sorption balances. Hysteresis evaluated from desorption isotherms gave linear absolute sorption hysteresis for the studied relative humidity range (0–96%), whereas hysteresis evaluated from scanning isotherms gave non-linear curves with a peak between 50 and 80% relative humidity. The position of this peak depended on the relative humidity from which desorption was initiated. Consequently, understanding and evaluation of sorption hysteresis might be challenging if scanning isotherms are used instead of desorption isotherms, hereby increasing the risk of misinterpreting the results. Graphical Abstract

Sorption‐based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) holds huge potential due to its freshwater capabilities for alleviating water scarcity stress. The two essential parts, sorbent material and system structure, dominate the water sorption–desorption performance and the total water productivity for SAWH system together. Attributed to the superiorities in aspects of sorption–desorption performance, scalability, and compatibility in practical SAWH devices, hygroscopic porous polymers (HPPs) as next‐generation sorbents are recently going through a vast surge. However, as HPPs’ sorption mechanism, performance, and applied potential lack comprehensive and accurate guidelines, SAWH's subsequent development is restricted. To address the aforementioned problems, this review introduces HPPs’ recent development related to mechanism, performance, and application. Furthermore, corresponding optimized strategies for both HPP‐based sorbent bed and coupling structural design are proposed. Finally, original research routes are directed to develop next‐generation HPP‐based SAWH systems. The presented guidelines and insights can influence and inspire the future development of SAWH technology, further achieving SAWH's practical applications. Hygroscopic porous polymers (HPPs) as novel sorbents have excellent water sorption performance, wide‐humidity applicability, and high system compatibility. Effective structural optimizations of sorbent beds and other components enable HPP‐based SAWH systems to exhibit desirable dynamic performance even with large material dosage. It can inspire the design of next‐generation SAWH system with promising water yield, further addressing the water shortage problem.

Water vapor sorption is the most fundamental aspect of wood-moisture relations. It is directly or indirectly related to the physical properties of wood and the onset of wood-damage mechanisms. While sorption properties of cellulosic materials have been utilized since antiquity, the time-dependent transition from one moisture content to another (i.e., sorption kinetics) has received much less attention. In this critical review, we present the state-of-the-art of water vapor sorption kinetics in wood. We first examine different experimental methods that have been used to measure sorption kinetics, from the quartz helix vacuum balance beginning in earnest in the 1930s, to automated sorption balances used recently. We then give an overview of experimental observations and describe the physical phenomena that occur during the sorption process, which potentially govern the following kinetics: boundary layer mass transfer resistance, heat of sorption, cell wall diffusion, swelling, and polymer mobility. Finally, we evaluate theoretical models that have been proposed for describing sorption kinetics, considering both experimental data and the physical processes described in the previous section. It is clear that no previously developed model can phenomenologically describe the sorption process. Instead, new models are needed. We conclude that the development of new models will require more than simple gravimetric measurements. In addition to mass changes, complementary techniques are needed to probe other important physical quantities on multiple length scales.

Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) released into the environment have an adverse impact on the soil and water ecosystem as well as human health. Sorption of PhACs by soils and its potential modification through introduced DOM in the applied animal manure or treated wastewater (TWW) determines the mobility and environmental relevance of PhACs. Sulfadiazine, caffeine and atenolol were selected as target PhACs to investigate their sorption behaviors by five selected arable soils in the absence and presence of pig manure DOM. Sulfadiazine was least sorbed, followed by caffeine and atenolol according to the Freundlich sorption isotherm fit (soil average Kf [μg(1−n) mLn g−1] 4.07, 9.06, 18.92, respectively). The addition of manure DOM (31.34 mg C L−1) decreased the sorption of sulfadiazine and especially of caffeine and atenolol (average Kf 3.04, 6.17, 5.79, respectively). Freundlich sorption isotherms of the PhACs became more nonlinear in the presence of manure DOM (Freundlich exponent n changed from 0.74–1.40 to 0.62–1.12), implying more heterogeneous sorption of PhACs in soil–DOM binary systems. Sorption competition of DOM molecules with sulfadiazine and caffeine mostly contributed to their decreased soil sorption when DOM was present. In contrast, the formation of DOM–atenolol associates in the solution phase caused the largely decreased soil sorption of atenolol in the presence of DOM. It is suggested that DOM concentration (e.g., ≥ 60 mg C L−1) and its interaction with PhACs should be taken into consideration when assessing the environmental impact of land application of animal manure or irrigation with TWW.

In this study, four types of “Juá” stem barks ( Ziziphus joazeiro ) were investigated for the removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. The tested samples included natural coarse barks, and barks washed with water, ethanol–water, and NaOH solutions. The solvent-modified materials simulated the waste of the industrial extraction of saponins from bark. The valorization of these processing residues as sorbents was evaluated. The NaOH-washed sorbent exhibited the highest sorption capacity for Cu(II) (maximum sorption capacity ≈ 32 mg g −1 ). Ion exchange process between copper and exchangeable surface cations and electrostatic attraction of copper with carboxylate and phenolate groups were identified as the primary sorption mechanisms. Desorption tests revealed that a large portion of the metal sorbed (80%) was easily released from the sorbent thus suggesting, in line with the proposed mechanisms, the existence of weak sorbate-sorbent interactions. The sorptive process was found to be exothermic (∆H° =  − 48.1 ± 13.5 kJ.mol −1 ) and thermodynamically favorable at lower temperatures. Graphical Abstract

Humic acids (HA) are promising green materials for water and wastewater treatment. They show a strong ability to sorb cationic and hydrophobic organic pollutants. Cationic compounds interact mainly by electrostatic interaction with the deprotonated carboxylic groups of HA. Other functional groups of HA such as quinones, may form covalent bonds with aromatic ammines or similar organic compounds. Computational and experimental works show that the interaction of HA with hydrophobic organics is mainly due to π–π interactions, hydrophobic effect and hydrogen bonding. Several works report that sorbing efficiency is related to the hydrophobicity of the sorbate. Papers about the interaction between organic pollutants and humic acids dissolved in solution, in the solid state and adsorbed onto solid particles, like aluminosilicates and magnetic materials, are reviewed and discussed. A short discussion of the thermodynamics and kinetics of the sorption process, with indication of the main mistakes reported in literature, is also given.

Dynamic vapour sorption method (DVS) represents modern technique investigating interactions between the vapour and solid-state objects. This paper looks deeper into determination of the diffusion coefficient. The diffusion coefficient has significant importance in many technical fields and accurate data are often missing. Determination of diffusion coefficient is based on simplified theories, but real-world experiments expose their limits. Applications of dynamic vapour sorption method is demonstrated in the experiment with wooden material. It shows some pitfalls though. Further considerations for improving the accuracy and removal of errors are discussed further.

Magnetic chitosan grafted with Schiff’s base polymer (M-Schiff’s-Chit) was prepared as a green sorbent starting from shrimp peels for the effective removal of hexavalent chromium. Chitosan extraction involved three main stages as preconditioning, demineralization deproteinization and deacetylation. The grafting process is confirmed by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Adsorption experiments were carried out in batch sorption mode to investigate the effect of pH, contact time, sorbent dose, concentration of Cr(VI) and evaluating the thermodynamics. Sorption kinetics are effectively modeled using the pseudo-second order rate equation while Langmuir equation successfully fits sorption isotherms. The sorption is endothermic, spontaneous and entropic. Chromate desorption can be successfully performed with 2 M of NaCl in 0.5 M NaOH and the sorbent can be recycled for at least three sorption/desorption cycles without significant loss in sorption/desorption performances. Furthermore, the environmentally friendly and low-cost M-Schiff’s-Chit could be applied as an effective sorbent to remediate Cr(VI) contamination from tannery effluent.

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in water systems is a major hazard for living organisms, including humans. The most popular technology currently used to remove Cr(VI) from polluted water is sorption for its effectiveness, ease of use, low cost and environmental friendliness. The electrostatic interactions between chromium species and the sorbent matrix are the main determinants of Cr(VI) sorption. The pH plays a central role in the process by affecting chromium speciation and the net charge on sorbent surface. In most cases, Cr(VI) sorption is an endothermic process whose kinetics is satisfactorily described by the pseudo second-order model. A critical survey of the recent literature, however, reveals that the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters reported for Cr(VI) sorption are often incorrect and/or erroneously interpreted.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) from biosolids can alter the sorption of orthophosphate (inorganic phosphorus (IP)) to soils and, therefore, affect the bioavailability of IP. It is not clear how clay mineralogy and solution composition interfere with DOM effects on IP sorption by soils. Hence, we studied the effect of DOM on IP sorption to five semi-arid soils dominated by either illite/smectite (I/S) or kaolinite clays. IP sorption isotherms were constructed in either NaCl or CaCl 2 background solution, with and without the addition of DOM. The IP sorption capacity maxima ( S MAX , Langmuir model) of the I/S soils were 33–102% higher in the presence of CaCl 2 , as compared to NaCl. Although DOM had no effect on the IP- S MAX in the presence of CaCl 2 , it increased the IP- S MAX by 35–59% in the presence of the NaCl solution. Surprisingly, DOM sorption to the I/S soils was 30–90% greater in the presence of a Na + -dominated solution, as compared to a Ca 2+ -dominated solution. In contrast to the I/S soils, the S MAX of the kaolinitic soil was not affected by the background electrolyte (Na + , Ca 2+ ) or the addition of DOM. Furthermore, the addition of IP reduced the sorption of DOM to the kaolinitic soil (by up to 50%) in both background electrolyte solutions. These results highlight the contrasting roles of divalent and monovalent cations in conjunction with DOM in IP sorption to semi-arid I/S soils. We propose a new approach based on two conceptual mechanisms to explain the DOM’s enhancement of IP sorption to I/S soils. (1) Under dispersion conditions in the Na + -dominated solutions, Ca 2+ -mediated DOM-IP complexes bind to the clay’s negative planar surfaces. (2) Under flocculation conditions in the Ca + -dominated solutions, the distance between adjacent platelets decreases, reducing both the electronegative charge spillover and Ca 2+ bridge-mediated DOM sorption. In contrast, the addition of DOM to kaolinite, a multi-platelet clay with a low isomorphic negative charge, reduces IP sorption due to competitive sorption on the clay’s broken edges.