The importance of porosity has long been recognized by scientists and engineers. Porous solids are widely encountered in industry and everyday life and their behaviour, e.g. chemical reactivity, adsorptive capacity, and catalytic activity is dependent on their pore structure. A considerable amount of work on porous solids has been undertaken both in academic and in industrial laboratories. However, all this activity is in urgent need of a critical appraisal. To undertake this task, a number of leading experts in the field of adsorption, porosimetry, X-ray and neutron scattering, optical and electron microscopy, calorimetry and fluid permeation, were brought together at the 1987 IUPAC (COPS I) Symposium.This proceedings volume provides an up-to-date overall review of the theoretical foundations for modelling and characterizing porous systems. It deals with most of the techniques in current use as applied to both model systems and porous solids of industrial importance. The reader will find the description and discussion of a number of novel techniques as well as a critical appraisal and comparison of the more established methods. All those concerned with the characterization of porous solids in academic and industrial laboratories will find much to interest them in this volume. It should be on the bookshelf of applied research centres involved in adsorption, catalysis, purification of gases and liquids, pigments, fillers, building materials, etc.

The objectives of the Third IUPAC Symposium on the Characterization of Porous Solids (COPS-III) were (1) to provide the opportunity for specialists to exchange ideas and new information on theoretical principles and methodology and (2) to generate proposals for the comparison and utilization of the many techniques now available for the characterization of porous solids. A successful outcome of the Symposium has been the final report of the IUPAC Subcommittee on Recommendations for the Characterization of Porous Solids, a summary of which is given in these proceedings. The edited papers included in the present volume have been selected from the 155 oral and poster presentations given at this symposium, which attracted 200 participants from 28 different countries. The following topics were discussed:1. Simulation and modelling of pore structures and pore-filling mechanisms2. Novel experimental techniques with particular reference to high-resolution techniques3. Model pore structures and reference materials4. Porous materials of technological importance.The wide range of materials and techniques described provide a useful and comprehensive reference source for academic and industrial scientists and technologists.

This unique book is the Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on the Characterisation of Porous Solids, known also as "COPS VIII". The conference is one of a series, held every three years, which covers developments in methods for the characterisation of porous materials, and applications of those methods. The scope of the conference: COPS VIII is concerned with fundamental and applied research on the characterisation of the structure of porous materials, and the relationship between structure and material performance. The scope includes experimental characterisation methods such as X-Ray diffraction, NMR, adsorption, mercury intrusion, and calorimetry; theoretical and simulation methods used to interpret experimental data, such as molecular simulation, classical and statistical mechanical theory, and pore network modelling; and applied research on the impact of measured material properties on performance in applications.

The Second IUPAC Symposium on the Characterization of Porous Solids (COPS-II) provided the opportunity for detailed discussion and appraisal of the most important techniques currently used for the characterization of porous materials, especially those of technological importance. The 82 selected papers and reviews contained in this volume are mainly concerned with the theoretical and experimental aspects of adsorption, fluid penetration, small-angle scattering and spectroscopic methods with their application in the study of adsorbents, catalysts, constructional materials, etc. Particular attention is given to the characterization of carbons, oxides, zeolites, clays, cement and polymers. The wide range of materials and techniques described in this book provide a useful and comprehensive reference source for academic and industrial scientists and technologists.

The 7th International Symposium on the Characterization of Porous Solids (COPS-VII) was held in the Congress Centre in Aix-en-Provence between the 25th-28th May 2005. The symposium covered recent results of fundamental and applied research on the characterization of porous solids. Papers relating to characterization methods such as gas adsorption and liquid porosimetry, X-ray techniques and microscopic measurements as well as the corresponding molecular modelling methods were given. These characterization methods were shown to be applied to all types of porous solids such as clays, carbons, ordered mesoporous materials, porous glasses, oxides, zeolites and metal organic frameworks. * 36 oral presentations and 166 posters and around 230 guests from 27 countries. * A large part of this symposium was devoted to the use computational methods to characterise porous solids

The growth of interest in newly developed porous materials has prompted the writing of this book for those who have the need to make meaningful measurements without the benefit of years of experience. One might consider this new book as the 4th edition of "Powder Surface Area and Porosity" (Lowell & Shields), but for this new edition we set out to incorporate recent developments in the understanding of fluids in many types of porous materials, not just powders. Based on this, we felt that it would be prudent to change the title to "Characterization of Porous Solids and Powders: Surface Area, Porosity and Density". This book gives a unique overview of principles associated with the characterization of solids with regard to their surface area, pore size, pore volume and density. It covers methods based on gas adsorption (both physi and chemisorption), mercury porosimetry and pycnometry. Not only are the theoretical and experimental basics of these techniques presented in detail but also, in light of the tremendous progress made in recent years in materials science and nanotechnology, the most recent developments are described. In particular, the application of classical theories and methods for pore size analysis are contrasted with the most advanced microscopic theories based on statistical mechanics (e.g. Density Functional Theory and Molecular Simulation). The characterization of heterogeneous catalysts is more prominent than in earlier editions; the sections on mercury porosimetry and particularly chemisorption have been updated and greatly expanded.

This book contains 99 of the papers that were presented at the 6th in the series of Symposia on Characterization of Porous Solids held in Alicante, Spain, May 2002. Written by leading international specialists in the subject, the contributions represent an up-to-date and authoritative account of recent developments around the world in the major methods used to characterize porous solids. The book is a useful work of reference for anyone interested in characterizing porous solids, such as MCM-41 mesoporous materials, pillared clays, etc. Papers on pore structure determination using gas adsorption feature strongly, together with papers on small angle scattering methods, mercury porosimetry, microcalorimetry, scanning probe microscopies, and image analysis.

The growth of interest in newly developed porous materials has prompted the writing of this book for those who have the need to make meaningful measurements without the benefit of years of experience. One might consider this new book as the 4th edition of "Powder Surface Area and Porosity" (Lowell & Shields), but for this new edition we set out to incorporate recent developments in the understanding of fluids in many types of porous materials, not just powders. Based on this, we felt that it would be prudent to change the title to "Characterization of Porous Solids and Powders: Surface Area, Porosity and Density". This book gives a unique overview of principles associated with the characterization of solids with regard to their surface area, pore size, pore volume and density. It covers methods based on gas adsorption (both physi and chemisorption), mercury porosimetry and pycnometry. Not only are the theoretical and experimental basics of these techniques presented in detail but also, in light of the tremendous progress made in recent years in materials science and nanotechnology, the most recent developments are described. In particular, the application of classical theories and methods for pore size analysis are contrasted with the most advanced microscopic theories based on statistical mechanics (e.g. Density Functional Theory and Molecular Simulation). The characterization of heterogeneous catalysts is more prominent than in earlier editions; the sections on mercury porosimetry and particularly chemisorption have been updated and greatly expanded.

The Fifth International Symposium on the Characterisation of Porous Solids (COPS-V) was held at Heidelberg, Germany, from May 30 to June 2, 1999. About 220 participants from 25 countries enjoyed a very successful meeting with 32 lectures and 155 poster presentations. The Symposium started with a highly stimulating lecture by Sir John Meurig Thomas, Cambridge, highlighting the recent developments in engineering of new catalysts. The following two full sessions were devoted to theory, modelling and simulation which provide the basis for the interpretation of pore structural data of adsorbents and finely dispersed solids. Sessions 2 and 3 focused on the advances in the synthesis and characterisation of highly ordered inorganic adsorbents and carbons. Sessions 4 and 5 addressed important questions with respect to the characterisation of porous solids by sorption measurement and other related techniques. The intensive three-day programme provided a stimulating forum for the exchange of novel research findings, concepts, techniques and materials which are collected in this volume.

This book focuses on structural characterisation techniques for porous materials. Covering a range of techniques, including gas sorption, mercury porosimetry, thermoporometry, NMR and imaging methods, this practical guide presents the basic theory behind each characterisation technique, and discusses the practicalities of the experimental and data analysis approaches needed for complex industrial samples. The book shows readers how to approach characterising a particular sort of material for the first time and then how to develop a strategy for more in-depth analysis. It also demonstrates how to determine the best techniques for solving particular problems, and describes methods of obtaining the required information, as well as the limitations of various methods. It particularly highlights a scientific approach involving parameter validation and simple acquisition. Featuring examples taken from case studies of real-world industrial materials, this book is intended for industrial practitioners and researchers. It provides a manual of potential techniques and answers questions concerning porous materials that arise in areas such as the catalyst industry, the oil and gas sector, batteries, fuel cells, tissue engineering scaffolds and drug delivery devices.