The interpretation of pore size distributions of microporous carbons Original Research Article

New data for the adsorption of nitrogen and methane on microporous carbons is interpreted with the aid of molecular modelling. Significant differences are found between the pore size distributions obtained from an analysis of the nitrogen adsorption isotherm of the carbon PRC16 and the pore size distribution resulting from a similar analysis of methane adsorption on the same material. It is suggested that these differences may arise from specific interactions between nitrogen and activated carbon surfaces and that caution is required in the interpretation of nitrogen PSDs.