International comparisons in the field of measurement of specific adsorption of gases and specific surface area of solids: the optimal amount to ensure calibration and measurement capabilities

Indicators of the accuracy of measurements of the most important characteristics of the structure of porous and dispersed materials - specific adsorption of gases, specific surface area, specific pore volume and pore size – are considered. The performance of sorbents, catalysts and membranes in the chemical and petroleum industries, including the purification of substances and materials, depends on the values of these characteristics. It has been established that for mutual recognition of national standards and certificates of calibrations and measurements of porosity characteristics of solid substances performed by national metrological institutes, it is required to organize and successfully participate in three international key comparisons under the auspices of the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance: Metrology in Chemistry and Biology of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. The results of the participation of national metrology institutes and designated organizations of Germany, China, Japan, Brazil, Turkey and Russia in three international key comparisons in the field of measurements of specific adsorption of gases (nitrogen, argon, krypton) and specific surface area of solids (zeolite, silicon oxides and aluminum) are presented. Carrying out the optimal number of comparisons makes it possible to register in the Key Comparison Database of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures the measuring and calibration capabilities of the national metrological institutes of the participating countries for various matrices in a wide range of measurements of specific adsorption of gases 0.001–25 mol/kg and specific surface area of solids 0.1–1500 m2/g. Based on the results of these three international key comparisons, 18 of broad calibration and measurement capabilities of the Russian participant, the D. I. Mendeleev Institute for Metrology, were entered into the Key Comparison Database; two of these items are currently undergoing examination, including reference materials produced by this institute. A comparative analysis of the results of measurements of the specific surface area of solids using nitrogen and krypton as adsorbates was performed. It has been established that the uncertainty of the measurement results of the specific surface area is significantly less in the case of using krypton as an adsorbate with a specific surface area of less than 1 m2/g, which is due to the higher values of the relative pressure of krypton compared to nitrogen. The use of calibration and testing laboratories in Russia of certified reference materials of sorption properties presented in the Key Comparison Database of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures will ensure metrological traceability in the field of measurements of porosity characteristics.