| adsorption | 1. <chemistry> The accumulation or concentration of molecules of a gas or liquid on a surface in contact with the gas or liquid, resulting in a relatively high concentration of the gas or solution at the surface. Note that the accumulating molecules do not actually penetrate the substance they are on. Compare: absorption. 2. <virology> The adhesion of a substance to an organic particle in a solution, for example the adhesion of a virus to a cell. Origin: L. Sorbere = to suck (10 May 1997) |
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| adsorption chromatography | Chromatography in which separation of substances is achieved by the difference in degree of adsorption of the compounds to a stationary phase. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adsorption fermentation | <microbiology> (extractive fermentation) A fermentation technique in which products of the fermentation are removed from the broth by adsorption onto materials such as carbon or polymers. Generally, the preferred method of doing this is to circulate the fermenting broth through the adsorbent substrate, because the fermentation products are often toxic to the microbes. (06 May 1997) |
| adsorption theory of narcosis | That a drug becomes concentrated at the surface of the cell as a result of adsorption, and thus alters permeability and metabolism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| immune adsorption | Removal of antibody (agglutinin or precipitin) from antiserum by use of specific antigen; after aggregation has occurred, the antigen-antibody complex is separated either by centrifugation or by filtration, removal of antigen by specific antiserum in a similar manner. (05 Mar 2000) |
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