sorption pump

A sorption pump utilizes a sorbent material, often a molecular sieve or activated charcoal, to retain gas molecules on its surface. These pumps can operate from atmospheric pressure down to 10⁻² torr, or even to 10⁻⁵ torr when used in series with other pumps. The sorbent is typically housed in a container that can be cooled, often with liquid nitrogen, to enhance the sorption process. The gas is released when the sorbent returns to room temperature. Sorption pumps are primarily used for roughing vacuum systems, especially when a system needs to be free of organic contamination, often in conjunction with sputter ion and titanium sublimation pumps.1