Abstract
Two families of macroscopic adsorption models are formulated, based on fundamental principles of adsorption science and technology, that may be used for macroscopic (e.g., whole-building) contaminant dispersal analysis. The first family of adsorption models – the Equilibrium Adsorption (EA) Models – are based upon the simple requirement of adsorption equilibrium between adsorbent and room air. The second family – the Boundary Layer Diffusion Controlled Adsorption (BLDC) Models – add to the equilibrium requirement a boundary layer model for diffusion of the adsorbate from the room air to the adsorbent surface. Two members of each of these families are explicitly discussed, one based on the linear adsorption isotherm model and the other on the Langmuir isotherm model. The linear variants of each family are applied to model the adsorption dynamics of formaldehyde in gypsum wall board and compared to measured data. These applications and a more general consideration of the dynamic character of adsorption provided by these models indicate that simple physical adsorption and desorption transport processes h e the potential to significantly affect the dispersal of contaminants in buildings.

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