5. Environmental and safety aspects

One of the main drawbacks of the mercury porosimetry technique is, of course, the use of mercury itself. Considered toxic, this liquid must be handled with care, the workplace must be organized according to its properties, and both its supply and recycling must be arranged with competent companies. At the end of the experiment, the sample is lost, and must also be recycled. INRS publishes a toxicological data sheet on mercury .

The best solution is to create a room reserved for this technique. It must be ventilated, and its air drawn in through suitable filters. It must also be temperature-controlled, to keep the temperature below 19°C, and thus...