What is absorption and how does it differ from adsorption?

Absorption is a mass transfer operation where a gas component dissolves into a liquid solvent throughout the bulk of the liquid phase. Adsorption is a surface phenomenon where molecules adhere to the surface of a solid. In absorption, the solute penetrates the entire liquid volume, while in adsorption, it remains on the solid surface. Examples: CO2 absorption in amine solutions; activated carbon adsorption of organics.