My article's reviewer wants me to determine the pore size of the membrane by gas (liquid)/liquid method, but I don't know this method. What is it? How does it work? If I don't determine the pore size by this particular method, which method is the best replacement for it?
If your membrane is dense- membrane, you can use Capillary Condensation Flow Porometer, which can measure pore size of membrane as well pore size distribution. The principle of this instrument is to pass a vapor (water/organic solvent depending on the membrane material) under pressure through the membrane pores. The vapor will be condensed inside the pore and under steady state it will provide the necessary data.
Liquid/liquid displacement method and gas/liquid displacement method, the pore is filled by liquid (says liquid 1), where certain pressure is applied to gas or liquid 2 to displace liquid 1. It uses Laplace equation to determine the pore radius and its distribution. In laplace equation, pore radius is inversely According to the Laplace equation the required pressure is proportional to the interfacial tension and inversely proportional to the pore radius.
delta P = 2*gamma*cos(theta)/r
Where gamma is surface tension, r is radius, and theta is contact angle. For more detailed procedure, please check in this paper :
L. Germic, K. Ebert, R.H.B. Bouma, Z. Borneman, M.H.V. Mulder, H. Strathmann (1997). Characterization of polyacrylonitrile ultrafiltration membranes. Journal of Membrane Science 132 131-145
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