The effects of different cation species on water adsorption on hydrophobic ZSM-5 zeolite are investigated through adsorption isotherm and isobar measurements. The adsorption isobars clearly show that sodium cations behave as stronger water adsorption sites than do protons. Furthermore, the adsorption isotherms of Na-and H-zeolites show such differences at part of the hysteresis loop. This suggests that the cation species in ZSM-5 affect the formation of the first, second, and third hydration shells in the hydrophobic space.Recently, there has been much focus on making improvements to microscopic measurement techniques and developing new methods for synthesizing porous materials. Microscopic measurement methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) 1 and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) 2 enable the study of the behavior of adsorbed molecules. New porous materials such as metalorganic frameworks (MOFs) 3 and porous organosilicates 4 have designable nanostructures. Using these new techniques and materials, we developed a method for controlling the pore structure and elucidating the molecular behavior in nanospaces. However, macroscopic measurements of the adsorbed amount, heat of adsorption, etc., are also important for the development of porous materials with new properties and functions.In adsorption studies, the adsorbed amount, which can be determined from adsorption isotherms by conventional gravimetric or volumetric analyses, is considered the most important macroscopic property. Adsorption isotherms have been frequently used to investigate the microscopic properties of porous materials since suitable measurement methods and the isothermal adsorption theory 57 have been well established. However, the information obtained by adsorption isotherm measurements is inadequate because the isotherms do not include the effects of temperature changes. Therefore, isobaric adsorption measurements are necessary. Adsorption isobars are typically measured using an indirect method that involves the measurement of many adsorption isotherms. However, this method cannot be applied to investigate the hysteresis during adsorbate loading. Therefore, we have developed a direct method for measuring adsorption isobars, using a high-speed feedback electrical circuit that helps in maintaining a constant pressure.In this study, we investigated the water adsorption on hydrophobic ZSM-5, a well-known microporous adsorbent and catalyst that finds numerous applications in different industrial fields.8,9 Although ZSM-5 is hydrophobic, its micropore structure contains adsorption sites that show strong interactions with polar molecules: an interesting advantage of ZSM-5.There are many reports on the behavior of water molecules inside hydrophobic nanospaces (e.g., in activated carbon). On the basis of XRD data, Kaneko, Iiyama, et al. suggested that water molecules confined in activated carbon form cluster-like assemblies.10 Gubbins et al. investigated the importance of hydrophilic adsorption sites in the formation of such assemblies ...