Back-formation from absorb and adsorb; ultimately from Latin sorbeō.
Meanings
To absorb or adsorb.
The exchange of pesticide compounds between aqueous solution and the sorbed phase in soils is not instantaneous. 2005, J. E. Barbash, “The Geochemistry of Pesticides”, in Barbara Sherwood Lollar, editor, Treatise on Geochemistry 9: Environmental Geochemistry, Second Edition, page 548:
The quantity sorbed is often found to be well represented by the combination of a compartment exhibiting linear, reversible sorption and a compartment that exhibits nonlinear and thermodynamic irreversib[l]e sorption. 2007, Danny D. Reible, “Chapter 21: Contaminant Processes in Sediments”, in Marcelo H. García, editor, Sedimentation Engineering: Processes, Management, Modeling, and Practice, page 966:
1971, E. K. Duursma, M. G. Gross, Chapter Six: Marine Sediments and Radioactivity, National Research Council (U.S.) Committee on Oceanography Panel on Radioactivity in the Marine Environment, Radioactivity in the marine environment, page 148,
In sediments with large cation exchange capacities, as calculated from the mineral composition (Duursma and Eisma, unpublished), the radionuclides were somewhat more strongly sorbed (Figure 2).
As contaminated water or air flows through GAC, contaminants sorb (stick) to the GAC surface and are removed. […] It also sorbs low levels of some types of metals. […] The “spent” GAC may be replaced with fresh GAC or regenerated to remove the sorbed contaminants. 2021, “Community Guide to Granular Activated Carbon Treatment”, in United States Environmental Protection Agency, page 1, columns 1, 2: