absorbent

1. A material that extracts one or more substances from a fluid (gas or liquid) medium on contact, and which changes physically or chemically or both in the process. Commonly used solid absorbents include calcium chloride, activated charcoal, and zeolites. Among liquid absorbents are solutions of lithium chloride, lithium bromide, and ethylene glycols. Absorbents have many uses, including separating, purifying, decolorizing, and deodorizing.



2. The less volatile of the two working fluids in an absorption cooling device.

Related category