Spectroscopic Analyses and Performance of Copper/Zinc Impregnated, ActivatedCarbons

摘要

The U.S. Army Chemical Research, Development and Engineering Center is presentlydeveloping chromium-free carbons for collective and individual air purification systems. Spectroscopic analyses were performed on similar copper/zinc impregnated carbon samples prepared from a laboratory and production scale process. These samples displayed different levels of hydrogen cyanide protection. The difference in the performance was attributed to the location of copper within the carbon granules. In addition, copper was found to leach from the carbon granule during prolonged humid exposure. The leaching of copper resulted in a decrease in the level of hydrogen cyanide protection, as evidenced by premature breakthrough of a reaction product, cyanogen.