Chemical Engineering - Chemical Reaction Engineering - Discussion

The volume of helium displaced by a catalyst is measured. The helium is removed and the volume of mercury displaced by the catalyst is measured. Since mercury will not fill the pores of the catalyst at atmospheric pressure, the difference in volumes displaced equals the pore volume of the sample.

It's not surface area, it should be solid density.

Pore volume can be easily obtained using the helium-mercurymethod. The volume of helium displaced by a catalyst is measured. The helium is removed and the volume of mercury displaced by the catalyst is measured.