Adsorption thermodynamics for process modelling

The Adsorption Group at the University of Edinburgh is pleased to invite the International Adsorption Community to the Advanced Adsorption Course as part of the Adsorption Research Industrial Consortium (ARIC).

The course will take place in Edinburgh (UK) on February 17-19, 2026.

This Advanced Course is aimed at PhD students, Researchers and Industrialists willing to gain a deeper insight of the fundamental aspects of adsorption thermodynamics for process modelling. It is based on over 30 years of experience in this field and is structured as an intensive 3-day programme including formal lectures, discussion periods and numerical tutorials focusing on thermodynamically consistent adsorption isotherms and models. The course will cover fundamental theory and practical guidelines for the most common experimental techniques.

The first day will introduce the definition of the different adsorbed amounts and how to interpret experimental data in model regression. Examples will be used to show that the same data can be regressed either with empirical unconstrained fits or imposing thermodynamic consistency. The second day will extend the discussion to the different thermodynamic approaches to describe multicomponent systems, including multisite Langmuir models, ideal and real adsorbed solution theory and vacancy solution theory. Thermodynamic consistency of experimental data and models will be discussed. The final day will be devoted to special topics including adsorption azeotropy, adsorption in systems with structural change, the rigid adsorbent lattice fluid model and thermodynamic relationships needed in kinetic models. 

The course builds on the introductory material of the Edinburgh Erlangen School of Adsorption and provides a deep dive into more advanced topics based on more than 30 years of experience. It will include a short review of classical thermodynamics of fluid phase equilibria so that the material presented is self-contained and analogies between vapour-liquid equilibria and adsorption equilibria can be understood by all participants.

Organisers

Stefano Brandani and Enzo Mangano

General Course Information

Dates: 17 - 19 February 2026

Preliminary schedule of activities:

Registration and fees

ARIC members (up to 3 delegates per company) are granted free participation to the course (Register your interest here)

The registration is now open. Please register here 

Early bird registration deadline: 09 Janyuary 2026

Registration fees include lunch and coffee, the course dinner.

There is a maximum number of participants, an early registration is recommended.

Venue:

The University of Edinburgh, School of Engineering, Mayfield Road, EH9 3FB, Edinburgh (Google Maps)