Comprehensive reference of ISO and ASTM standards for pore structure characterization. Organized by method, application, and industry requirements for mercury intrusion, gas adsorption, and capillary flow porometry.
ISO Standards
International Organization for Standardization — Global porosimetry standards
ISO 15901-1:2016
Evaluation of pore size distribution and porosity of solid materials by mercury porosimetry and gas adsorption — Part 1: Mercury porosimetry
Current
Published: 2016
Replaces: ISO 15901-1:2005
The primary international standard for mercury intrusion porosimetry. Specifies the determination of pore size distribution, total pore volume, porosity, density, and specific surface area of porous and non-porous solids by mercury porosimetry using the Washburn equation.
Scope
Mercury porosimetry is described as suitable for many materials with pore diameters between about 0.003 μm and 400 μm; commercial instruments with sub-ambient filling reach larger diameters. Covers sample preparation, instrument calibration, measurement procedures, data analysis methods, and reporting requirements. Includes guidance on avoiding common measurement artifacts.
Determination of the specific surface area of solids by gas adsorption — BET method
Current
Published: 2022
Replaces: ISO 9277:2010
The definitive international standard for specific surface area determination using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. Covers single-point and multipoint BET analysis from gas adsorption isotherms.
Scope
Specifies proper selection of the relative pressure range (typically 0.05–0.30 P/P₀), validation of the BET C-constant, and criteria for acceptable BET plots. Includes requirements for sample degassing and adsorbate selection (N₂, Ar, Kr).
BETSurface AreaGas AdsorptionGeneral Purpose
ISO 15901-2:2022
Pore size distribution and porosity of solid materials by mercury porosimetry and gas adsorption — Part 2: Analysis of nanopores by gas adsorption
Current
Published: 2022
Replaces: ISO 15901-2:2006 and ISO 15901-3:2007
The second edition merges the former Part 2 (mesopores and macropores) and Part 3 (micropores) into a single standard for “nanopores”: micro- and mesopore analysis by gas adsorption. It covers classical methods (BJH, t-plot, Dubinin) and DFT-based methods. It complements ISO 9277 for pore size analysis.
Scope
Covers micropores and mesopores (and the lower macropore range). Describes the Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) method, density functional theory (DFT) approaches, and guidelines for method selection. Includes analysis of hysteresis loops per IUPAC classification.
BJHDFTMesoporesMicropores
ISO 15901-3:2007
Evaluation of pore size distribution and porosity of solid materials by gas adsorption — Part 3: Analysis of micropores by gas adsorption
Withdrawn
Published: 2007 · Replaced by ISO 15901-2:2022
Withdrawn and replaced by ISO 15901-2:2022, but still cited widely in the literature. Specified methods for analyzing microporous materials (pore sizes below 2 nm) using gas adsorption. Covers t-plot, α-s plot, Dubinin methods, and DFT approaches for micropore characterization.
Scope
Applicable to microporous materials including zeolites, activated carbons, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Describes micropore volume determination, micropore size distribution analysis, and external surface area calculation. Covers use of nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide as adsorbates.
Microporest-PlotDFTZeolitesMOFs
ASTM Standards
American Society for Testing and Materials — North American standards
ASTM D4284-25
Standard Test Method for Determining Pore Volume Distribution of Catalysts and Catalyst Carriers by Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry
Widely used ASTM standard for mercury intrusion porosimetry, particularly in the petroleum and catalysis industries. Covers pore volume distribution, median pore diameter, and total pore volume measurement.
Scope
Originally developed for catalysts and catalyst carriers but applicable to many porous materials. Uses the Washburn equation with stated values for mercury surface tension and contact angle (commonly 485 mN/m and 130–140°), which must be reported. Includes precision and bias statements.
MIPCatalystsPetroleumPore Volume
ASTM F316-03(2019)
Standard Test Methods for Pore Size Characteristics of Membrane Filters by Bubble Point and Mean Flow Pore Test
Current
Published: 2003
Reapproved: 2019
The primary ASTM standard for capillary flow porometry. Describes bubble point testing and mean flow pore size determination for membrane filters and porous materials with through-pores.
Scope
Applicable to porous membranes and filters. Covers bubble point test (largest pore), mean flow pore test, and pore size distribution determination. Specifies wetting fluid requirements, test procedures, and calculation methods. Widely used in pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and semiconductor filtration QC.
CFPBubble PointMembranesFiltration QC
ASTM D6556
Standard Test Method for Carbon Black—Total and External Surface Area by Nitrogen Adsorption
Current
Revised periodically — check the current edition
Specialized ASTM method for carbon black surface area determination using multipoint BET nitrogen adsorption and statistical thickness (STSA) method for external surface area.
Scope
Specifically for carbon black materials. Describes total surface area by multipoint BET and external surface area by statistical thickness analysis. Includes detailed degassing protocols and precision statements for carbon blacks.
BETCarbon BlackSTSA
ASTM C1274
Standard Test Method for Advanced Ceramic Specific Surface Area by Physical Adsorption
Current
Revised periodically — check the current edition
ASTM method for BET surface area determination of advanced ceramic materials including powders, fibers, and porous ceramics.
Scope
Applicable to advanced ceramic powders and porous ceramics. Covers nitrogen adsorption BET method with specific requirements for ceramic materials. Includes sample preparation, degassing conditions, and data analysis for ceramics.
BETCeramicsAdvanced Materials
IUPAC Recommendations
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry — Classification frameworks
IUPAC Technical Report 2015
Physisorption of gases, with special reference to the evaluation of surface area and pore size distribution
Authoritative
Published: 2015
Citation: Pure Appl. Chem. 2015; 87(9-10): 1051–1069
The updated and authoritative IUPAC classification system for physisorption isotherms and hysteresis loops. This technical report is the foundation for interpreting gas adsorption data worldwide.
Scope
Defines six types of physisorption isotherms (Type I–VI) and five types of hysteresis loops (H1–H5). Provides guidance on pore size classification (micropores <2 nm, mesopores 2–50 nm, macropores >50 nm). Discusses BET surface area determination, micropore analysis methods, and mesopore size distribution techniques. Essential reference for all gas adsorption analysis.
Application-focused standards for specialized industries
USP <846>
Specific Surface Area (United States Pharmacopeia)
Pharma
United States Pharmacopeia general chapter on specific surface area determination for pharmaceutical materials. References BET method and provides pharmaceutical-specific requirements.
BETPharmaceuticalAPIExcipients
ASTM C1202
Standard Test Method for Electrical Indication of Concrete's Ability to Resist Chloride Ion Penetration
Construction
While not directly a porosimetry standard, its result (charge passed, governed largely by pore-solution conductivity and pore connectivity) is often discussed alongside MIP data when studying cement paste porosity and durability.
ConcreteDurabilityComplementary to MIP
API RP 40
Recommended Practices for Core Analysis (American Petroleum Institute)
Petroleum
API recommended practice for petroleum reservoir rock core analysis. Includes mercury injection for porosity, permeability, and pore throat distribution determination.
MIPPetroleumReservoir AnalysisCore Samples
Regional Standards
European, Japanese, and Chinese national standards
DIN 66131 / 66133 / 66134
German Standards (DIN) for Gas Adsorption and Mercury Porosimetry
European
German national standards, now largely superseded by ISO equivalents: DIN 66131 (BET surface area, replaced by DIN ISO 9277), DIN 66133 (mercury porosimetry, 1993; ISO 15901-1 now applies), and DIN 66134 (BJH mesopore analysis by nitrogen sorption).
DINEuropeanHarmonized with ISO
JIS R 1626 / JIS R 1655
Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) for Porosimetry
Japanese
Japanese Industrial Standards for BET surface area (JIS R 1626) and mercury porosimetry (JIS R 1655), primarily for fine ceramics and advanced materials.
JISJapaneseFine Ceramics
GB/T 19587
Chinese National Standard for BET Surface Area (Guobiao)
Chinese
Chinese national standard (GB/T 19587) for determination of specific surface area of solids by gas adsorption using the BET method. Largely aligned with ISO 9277.