This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: F316 − 03 (Reapproved 2019)

Standard Test Methods for

Pore Size Characteristics of Membrane Filters by Bubble
Point and Mean Flow Pore Test1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F316; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope D1193 Specification for Reagent Water

1.1 These test methods cover the determination of two of D2777 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias of
the pore size properties of membrane filters with maximum Applicable Test Methods of Committee D19 on Water
pore sizes from 0.1 to 15.0 µm. E128 Test Method for Maximum Pore Diameter and Perme-
ability of Rigid Porous Filters for Laboratory Use
1.2 Test Method A presents a test method for measuring the
maximum limiting pore diameter of nonfibrous membranes. 3. Terminology
The limiting diameter is the diameter of a circle having the
same area as the smallest section of a given pore (Fig. 1). 3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to
1.3 Test Method B measures the relative abundance of a Terminology D1129.
specified pore size in a membrane, defined in terms of the
limiting diameter. 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:

iTeh Standards
3.2.1 limiting pore diameter, n—diameter of a circle having
1.4 The analyst should be aware that adequate collaborative the same area as the smallest section of a given pore.
data for bias statements as required by Practice D2777 is not
3.2.2 pore size, n—capillary equivalent pore diameter.
(https://standards.iteh.ai)
provided. See the precision and bias section for details.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as

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standard. No other units of measurement are included in this TEST METHOD A—MAXIMUM PORE SIZE
standard.
4. Summary of Test Method
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 4.1 The bubble point test for maximum pore size is per-
ASTM F316-03(2019)
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- formed by prewetting the filter, increasing the pressure of gas
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priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- upstream of the filter at a predetermined rate and watching for
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. gas bubbles downstream to indicate the passage of gas through
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor- the maximum diameter filter pores.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 4.2 The pressure required to blow the first continuous
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the bubbles detectable by their rise through a layer of liquid
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- covering the filter is called the “bubble point,” and is used to
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical calculate maximum pore size.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents 5. Significance and Use
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 5.1 This test method may be used to:
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water 5.1.1 Determine the maximum pore size of a filter,
5.1.2 Compare the maximum pore sizes of several filters,
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D19 on and
Water and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.08 on Membranes and 5.1.3 Determine the effect of various processes such as
Ion Exchange Materials. filtration, coating, or autoclaving on the maximum pore size of
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2019. Published December 2019. Originally
a membrane.
approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as F316 – 03 (2011).
DOI: 10.1520/F0316-03R19.
2
5.2 Membrane filters have discrete pores from one side to
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
the other of the membrane, similar to capillary, tubes. The
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on bubble point test is based on the principle that a wetting liquid
the ASTM website. is held in these capillary pores by capillary attraction and

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1
 F316 − 03 (2019)
6.3 Pressure Gauges (and mercury manometer if required),
covering the range of pressures needed for the pore sizes under
investigation (see Table 1).
6.4 Metal Punch, used to cut a suitable size filter from the
test sheet to fit the test filter holder.
7. Reagents
7.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals shall be
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
FIG. 1 Examples of Limiting Diameters all reagents shall conform to the specifications of the Commit-
tee on Analytical Reagents of the American Chemical Society
surface tension, and the minimum pressure required to force where such specifications are available.3 Other grades may be
liquid from these pores is a function of pore diameter. The used provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of
pressure at which a steady stream of bubbles appears in this test sufficient high purity to permit its use without lessening the
is the bubble point pressure. The bubble point test is significant accuracy of the determination.
not only for indicating maximum pore size, but may also 7.2 Water, conforming to Specification D1193, Type IV or
indicate a damaged membrane, ineffective seals, or a system higher purity.
leak.
7.3 Denatured Alcohol.
5.3 The results of this test method should not be used as the
7.4 Petroleum Distillate, with surface tension of 30
sole factor to describe the limiting size for retention of
dynes/cm at 25°C.
particulate contaminants from fluids. The effective pore size
calculated from this test method is based on the premise of 7.5 Mineral Oil, such as USP liquid petrolatum heavy, with
capillary pores having circular cross sections, and does not surface tension of 34.7 dynes/cm at 25°C.
refer to actual particle size retention. See Test Method E128 for 7.6 1,1.2-trichloro-l,2,2-trifluoroethane (Freon TF), avail-
additional information.
6. Apparatus
iTeh Standards able from commercial chemical supply houses.
7.7 Clean Gas Pressure Source, with regulation (filtered air
6.1 Filter Holder, as shown(https://standards.iteh.ai)
or nitrogen).
in Fig. 2, consisting of a base A,
NOTE 2—Table 1 lists the nominal surface tension of these liquids at
a locking ring B, O-ring seal C, support disk D, and gas inlet
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25°C. Table 2 lists the simplified maximum pore size formulas based on
E. The support disk shall be 2-ply construction, consisting of a these values, where the liquid completely wets the membrane.
100 by 100 mesh or finer screen and a perforated metal plate
for rigidity. The diameter of the test filter may be either 25 or 8. Procedure
47 mm, as appropriate to the holder being usedASTM for the test. 8.1 Wet the test membrane completely by floating it on a
F316-03(2019)
6.2 Manifold, as shown in Fig. 3, a micrometric flow control pool of the liquid. Use a vacuum chamber to assist in wetting
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the filter, if needed.
valve capable of providing a linear rise in pressure and a gas
ballast of at least 16 000-cm3 capacity. 8.2 Place the wet membrane in the filter holder.
NOTE 1—For less accurate determinations, the simplified apparatus
shown in Fig. 4 may be used.
8.3 Close the filter holder and apply slight gas pressure to
eliminate possible liquid back flow.
8.4 Cover the perforated metal plate with 2 to 3 mm of test
liquid.
8.5 Increase the gas pressure slowly. Record the lowest
pressure at which a steady stream of bubbles rises from the
central area of the liquid reservoir.
NOTE 3—Faulty sealing may cause erroneous bubbling from the sealing
edge of the liquid reservoir. Be sure to record the bubble point pressure
with bubbles from the central area of the reservoir (see Fig. 5).

3
ACS Reagent Chemicals, Specifications and Procedures for Reagents and
Standard-Grade Reference Materials, American Chemical Society, Washington,
DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not listed by the American Chemical
Society, see Analar Standards for Laboratory Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset,
U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary, U.S. Pharma-
FIG. 2 Filter Holder copeial Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville, MD.

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 F316 − 03 (2019)

Key Quantity Component

1 1 Filter
2 1 Pressure regulator
3 1 Pressure gauge
4 1 Valve shutoff, manual
5 1 Valve, flow control, manual
6 4 Valve, solenoid, nc

iTeh Standards
7 1 Air ballast
8 1 Quick disconnect fitting
9 2 Open filter holder, 47 mm

(https://standards.iteh.ai)
10 1 Valve, 3-way, manual
11 1 Test gauge, 0-0.3 kPa (0-30 psig)
12 1 Test gauge, 0-0.8 kPa (0-100 psig)
13 1 Exhaust silencer
14
15 Document Preview 2
1
Pilot light, red, elec.
Switch, spdt, elec.

FIG. 3 Manifold for Bubble Point Testing

ASTM F316-03(2019)
where:
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d = limiting diameter, µm,
γ = surface tension, mN/m, (dynes/cm),
p = pressure, Pa or cm Hg, and
C = constant, 2860 when p is in Pa, 2.15 when p is in cm Hg,
and 0.415 when p is in psi units.
NOTE 4—The fluid must completely wet the membrane filter with the
contact angle being zero. If the contact angle is greater than zero, the
calculated effective pore size will be larger than the actual effective pore
size rating.

10. Reporting Results

10.1 Record the minimum pressure for gas passage as
indicated by continuous bubbles. Record the maximum pore
size calculated, along with identification of the membrane
FIG. 4 Test Setup (Simplified)
tested and the liquid used.

9. Calculation TEST METHOD B—DETERMINATION OF PORE

SIZE DISTRIBUTION
9.1 If the test liquid is known to wet the membrane
completely, calculate the maximum pore size from the follow- 11. Summary of Test Method
ing equation: 11.1 A fluid-wet filter will pass air when the applied air
d 5 Cγ/p (1) pressure exceeds the capillary attraction of the fluid in the