Adsorption/desorption of Chlorohexidine (CHX) on Flax and Cotton fibers - Dissertation Example

The paper tells that adsorption is different from absorption and can be defined as binding or adherence of liquid or gaseous substances to the surface of another substance which is called adsorbent. The key difference from absorption is that the attached substance remains on the surface without entering the solid’s space. Binding is week, therefore it is reversible. The reverse process is called desorption. In this case the molecules of the adsorbed compound, for example chlorhexidine, are detached from the surface and released into the surroundings.

Chlorhexidine is a promising antimicrobial substance which is active against both gram negative and gram positive bacteria. It occurs in nature in the form of chlorhexidine gluconate. Different materials manifest different adsorption properties towards same substances. The same is true for desorption because porosity and surface area should also be taken into account as contributing factors. Also, pressure temperature and the nature of substance should be considered. Low temperature, high surface area of highly reactive adsorbent and high pressure favours adsorption.

Flax is an extremely important type of plant that has a lot of practical applications. Fibres from its outer layer are used in a number of ways. They are flexible and soft, stronger but less elastic then cotton. The increase in temperature will expand the material making pores within the substance larger. This will decrease the ability to support the adsorbed chlorhexidine molecules. The longer the cotton’s fibre the finer it is. For cotton cell walls are thin and the