Adsorption Characteristics of Activated Carbon Fibers in Respirator Cartridges for Volatile Organic Compounds Grant uri icon

abstract

  • Current respirators protect workers against several gases and vapors using granular activated carbon (GAC) as the standard adsorbent. However, a drawback of GAC due to its granular form is its need for containment, adding weight and bulkiness to respirators. This makes respirators uncomfortable to wear, resulting in poor user compliance among workers. Thus, there is a need to develop better respirators that would address such discomfort-related and other issues, improve user compliance, and protect worker health. Activated carbon fibers (ACF) are alternative adsorbents for developing thinner, light-weight and efficient respirators because of their larger surface area, larger adsorption capacities, thinner critical bed depth, lighter weight and fabric form. The aim of this proposed study is to investigate the adsorption characteristics of ACF in respirator cartridges with varying ACF composition and densities for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with different adsorbate characteristics and environmental conditions. The ultimate goal is to design breathable and lighter ACF respirators that will provide sufficient worker protection against airborne contaminants. ACF cartridge configurations of varying ACF composition and densities will be challenged with different concentrations of toluene and nonafluorobutyl methyl ether (NFE). Breakthrough curves will be obtained using photoionization detector. Adsorption capacities of each ACF cartridge will be calculated by determining the mass ratio of adsorbed chemical to the ACF materials in the cartridge, and will be compared among ACF cartridge configurations to determine their suitable application in respiratory protection. This study addresses the NIOSH research objective of developing new protective equipment to reduce work-related illnesses and injuries, and ?control of hazards and exposures? as one of the issues relevant to the Total Worker Health Perspective. Results of the proposed study on the appropriate application of ACF in respiratory protection based on adsorption characteristics can be translated into the development of the optimum configurations of ACF respirators that may improve user compliance and, eventually, worker protection against airborne pollutants. Such translation of knowledge will contribute to the NIOSH Research to Practice (r2p) initiative of applying research findings to worker protection products.

date/time interval

  • December 2016 - June 2017