The phenomenon of adsorption finds a number of applications in laboratory and industry such as:

1. In Preserving Vacuum:- in Dewar flask activated charcoal is placed between the walls so that any gas diffused is get adsorbed by charcoal and vacuum is preserved.
2. In gas masks:- All gas masks contain suitable adsorbent so that the poisonous gas is get adsorbed on these adsorbents and air for breathing is purified.
3. In sugar industry:- Sugar is decolorized by treating the sugar solution with charcoal powder, which adsorbs the undersirable colour present.
4. In Catalysis:- The phenomenon of catalysis is explained on the basis of adsorption theory and heat evolved in chemisorptions.
5. In softening of hard water:- The use of ion exchange for softening of hard water is based upon the principle of competing adsorption.
6. In chromatographic analysis:- The adsorption of certain substances selectively from a solution by a particular solid adsorbent has developed the technique of separation of the components of a mixture. It is called chromatographic analysis.