Adsorption Performance of Activated-Carbon-Loaded Nonwoven Filters Used in Filtering Facepiece Respirators

Małgorzata Okrasa, Jörn Hitz, Aleksandra Nowak, Agnieszka Brochocka, Christoph Thelen and Zbigniew Walczak
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Małgorzata Okrasa: Department of Personal Protective Equipment, Central Institute for Labour Protection, National Research Institute, Wierzbowa 48, 90-133 Łódź, Poland
Jörn Hitz: Sub-Division 3.3 “Personal protective equipment against Chemical and Biological Substances”, Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Alte Heerstraße 111, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
Aleksandra Nowak: Department of Personal Protective Equipment, Central Institute for Labour Protection, National Research Institute, Wierzbowa 48, 90-133 Łódź, Poland
Agnieszka Brochocka: Department of Personal Protective Equipment, Central Institute for Labour Protection, National Research Institute, Wierzbowa 48, 90-133 Łódź, Poland
Christoph Thelen: Sub-Division 3.3 “Personal protective equipment against Chemical and Biological Substances”, Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Alte Heerstraße 111, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
Zbigniew Walczak: Department of Theoretical Physics, University of Lodz, Pomorska 149/153, 90-236 Łódź, Poland

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: Filtering nonwovens loaded with activated carbon are among the most popular materials used in the construction of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) with anti-odour properties that can be used for respiratory protection at workplaces where the occupational exposure limits of harmful substances are not exceeded. Such FFRs, in addition to a polymer filter material of varying effectiveness, also contain a layer of activated-carbon-loaded nonwoven filter, which limits the quantity of chemical compounds entering the breathing zone. The aim of this work was to analyse the influence of challenge concentration (20–120 ppm), relative humidity (2–70%), flow rate (20–55 L/min), and flow pattern (steady-state and pulsating) on the breakthrough of polymer/carbon nonwovens. A commercial activated-carbon-loaded nonwoven filter was used in this study. Its morphology and textural parameters were determined using optical microscopy, image processing, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements at 77 K. Breakthrough experiments were carried out using cyclohexane vapours to assess adsorption characteristics of polymer/carbon media. The results showed that the breakthrough times decreased with increasing challenge concentration (up to 30%), relative humidity (up to 73%), and flow rate (up to 72%). The pulsating flow pattern was found to be more favourable in terms of odour reduction efficiency (up to 30%). The results indicate that all of these factors should be considered during selection and performance assessment of respirators used for odour relief.

Keywords: activated-carbon-loaded nonwovens; respiratory protection; filtering facepiece respirators; anti-odour properties; breakthrough time (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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