Respirator canister evaluation for selected organic vapors and sorbent performance against vinyl chloride

Technical Report · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6721197· OSTI ID:6721197

Stampfer, J F; Weeks, Jr, R W; Ettinger, H J

The protection afforded by one commercial organic vapor respirator canister (MSA/GMA) against chloroform, benzene, epichlorohydrin, acrylonitrile, propargyl alcohol, 1,2-dibromoethane, acrolein, chloromethyl methyl ether, and N-nitrosodimethylamine was determined. Six canisters simultaneously were challenged at 64 actual liters per minute with test atmospheres of these compounds at both 80% and < 15% relative humidity (RH). Breakthrough volume was defined as that volume of air which passed through the canister before the downstream concentration was 1% of the challenge concentration. Tests were continued until at least this concentration was attained or 16 h had elapsed, whichever occurred first. Under a moderate workload, these canisters should afford adequate protection against chloroform, benzene, and acrylonitrile for at least 4 h, epichlorohydrin for at least 8 h, and the remaining compounds (except chloromethyl methyl ether) for at least 16 h. Chloromethyl methyl ether at 80% RH exhibited a minimum penetration of 30% after only 34 min, and it appears that this and similar canisters will not provide adequate protection against atmospheres containing this compound. In all tests in which breakthrough occurred, the decrease in breakthrough time with increase in relative humidity was greater than would be expected from published literature. The capacities of a charcoal and Ambersorb 347 for vinyl chloride were determined. Challenge atmospheres were 10-ppM vinyl chloride at both 80% and < 15% RH. At 1% penetration, the calculated charcoal capacity was 2.0 mg of vinyl chloride per gram of sorbent at < 15% RH, and 0.52 mg/gm at 80% RH. The corresponding capacities for Ambersorb 347 were 0.68 and 0.36. Both sorbents, when used in respirator equipment, appear only marginally useful against vinyl chloride.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6721197
• Report Number(s): LA-8560-MS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420202* -- Engineering-- Protective Structures &amp; Equipment
ACROLEIN
ACRYLONITRILE
ADSORBENTS
ADSORPTION
ALDEHYDES
AMINES
AROMATICS
BENZENE
CHARCOAL
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CHLOROFORM
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
ETHERS
EVALUATION
FLUIDS
GASES
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HUMIDITY
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
NITRILES
NITROSO COMPOUNDS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RESPIRATORS
SORPTION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TRACE AMOUNTS
VAPORS