Improving the interpretation of mercury porosimetry data using computerised X-ray tomography and mean-field DFT |
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Authors: | Sean P Rigby Peter I Chigada Jiawei Wang Sam K Wilkinson Henry Bateman Bushra Al-Duri Joseph Wood Serafim Bakalis Taghi Miri |
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Affiliation: | aDepartment of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK;bDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK;cCentre for Formulation Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK |
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Abstract: | Despite widespread use of the technique for a long time, the proper interpretation of mercury porosimetry data, particularly retraction curves, remains uncertain. In this work, the usefulness of two complementary techniques, mean-field density functional theory (MF-DFT) and micro-computerized X-ray tomography (micro-CXT), for aiding interpretation of ambiguous mercury porosimetry data has been explored. MF-DFT has been used to show that a specific, idiosyncratic form for the top of the mercury intrusion and extrusion curves is probably associated with a particular network structure where the smallest pores only form through connections between larger pores. CXT has been used to study the pore potential theory of hysteresis and entrapment directly using a model porous material with spatially varying pore wetting properties. CXT has also been used to directly study the percolation properties, and entrapment of mercury, within a macroporous pellet. Particular percolation pathways across the heart of the pellet have been directly mapped. The forms of entrapped mercury ganglia have been directly observed and related to retraction mechanisms. A combination of CXT and mercury porosimetry can be used to map spatial variation in pore neck sizes below the spatial resolution of imaging. |
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Keywords: | Catalyst support Phase change Porous media Voidage Micro-computerized X-ray tomography Percolation |
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