Development of Novel Sorbents for Respirators

摘要

A study was undertaken of the effect of low volatility, nontoxic, organic dopantson the adsorption of low molecular weight polar organic vapors on activated carbon. The studies were made at 0% and 76% relative humidity. Calgon PCB 12x30 was the activated carbon used in the study. The dopants tested included glycerol, squalane, and 1-dodecanol. These organic compounds were chosen because of their extremely low vapor pressue, and low toxicity. A reduction was caused by the dopants in the amount of water vapor condensed in the micropores of the carbon. The modified activated carbon absorbed less of the low molecular weight polar organic when compared to the unmodified activated carbon. The proposed concept of producing a sorbent for respirators which is effective at removing a wide range of toxicants under a variety of relative humidity conditions by using a heavy organic dopant did not show promise for the systems and dopant levels studied.