DID U KNOW series : Absorb vs Adsorb

From time to time, we receive questions from our customers and blog followers that relate to some of the technology and terms used in our packaging, promotions or digital communications.  We thought this would be a great place to share additional insight into some of the questions we receive.  This will be our first installment of “DID U KNOW? – Insights into our natural world by drTung’s.” This new blog segment is designed to provide readers with an “Aha moment”.

First on the list, the word adsorb.  Yes—you read that right! NOT to be confused with “absorb”.   Both of these verbs adsorb and absorb sound quite similar and their meanings both involve collecting a substance. However, the way they collect the substance is completely different and cannot be substituted for each other.

Let’s start with the easy one—absorb.  Absorb means to soak up, like to soak up a spill with a paper towel. The towel absorbs water.

Adsorb, on the other hand, means to collect particles/molecules/gasses on a surface.

Adsorption then, is a surface phenomenon while absorption involves the whole volume of the material¹

WHY DO WE WANT TO KNOW THIS DIFFERENCE?

It’s unlikely you will find a need to use the term adsorb in your daily life, as it is  mainly a scientific term; however, there are many practical applications of adsorption that we don’t even think of—silica packets adsorb moisture to reduce humidity, gas masks adsorb poisonous gases, activated charcoal is an adsorbent used for overdose cases and water filtration.

Today we want to share how this word adsorb applies to DrTung’s products and how adsorption benefits your oral health.

Oil Pulling Concentrate The ancient Ayurvedic practice of swishing oil in the mouth for a period of time lets the oily and fatty bacteria CLING to the good oil and then you spit it out along with all the toxins and bacteria—essentially ridding your mouth of bacteria through ‘swishing’.  Pretty cool, yes?

Activated Charcoal Floss Activated charcoal is a form of carbon processed to have small, low-volume pores that increase the surface area available for adsorption.  One gram of activated carbon has a surface area in excess of 3000 m2 (32,000 sq ft)!!!2 What does that mean for you? All those tiny pores of the activated charcoal on the floss are helping collect plaque and food particles from between your teeth and gum line and pulling it right out of your mouth.  Now that’s an “aha moment”!

Let us know if you have something you’d like us to address in our next edition, or if you like this DrTung’s DID U KNOW series.