What are the components required for the adsorption processes?

The two components required for the adsorption process are the adsorbate and the adsorbent. An adsorbate is a substance which attaches or sticks to the surface of another material or substance. This can include gases like hydrogen, oxygen, or nitrogen. The absorbent is a material’s surface that is capable of holding other substances (adsorbates) on its surface. Substances such as churchill, alumina, and silica gel act are able to effectively retain adsorbate molecules. 

Physical adsorption is the process in which the molecules of an adsorbate are attracted to and stick onto the surface of an adsorbent via weak van der Waals forces. This process is a reversible attachment between the molecules of the adsorbate and the surface of the adsorbent. Chemical adsorption involves a strong chemical reaction between the adsorbate and adsorbent. Unlike physical adsorption, this process forms strong covalent or ionic bonds between molecules of the adsorbate and substrate. It is an irreversible process.