White Light-Photolysis for the Removal of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Proximity Firefighting Protective Clothing

Aline Marcelino Arouca (), Victor Emmanuel Delfino Aleixo, Maurício Leite Vieira, Márcio Talhavini and Ingrid Távora Weber
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Aline Marcelino Arouca: Federal Institute of Education Science and Technology of Brasilia—IFB, Subcentro Leste—Complexo Boca da Mata, 02, Samambaia Sul, Brasilia 72302-300, Brazil
Victor Emmanuel Delfino Aleixo: Laboratory of Inorganic and Materials (LIMA), Chemistry Institute, University of Brasilia—UNB, Brasilia 70904-970, Brazil
Maurício Leite Vieira: National Institute of Criminalistics, Brazilian Federal Police, SAIS Quadra 07 Lote 23, Brasilia 70610-200, Brazil
Márcio Talhavini: National Institute of Criminalistics, Brazilian Federal Police, SAIS Quadra 07 Lote 23, Brasilia 70610-200, Brazil
Ingrid Távora Weber: Laboratory of Inorganic and Materials (LIMA), Chemistry Institute, University of Brasilia—UNB, Brasilia 70904-970, Brazil

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on firefighters’ personal protective equipment is a concern. One form of preventing from these compounds is to decontaminate proximity firefighting protective clothing (PFPC). Traditional decontamination methods do not promote total removal of pollutants and alter the properties of PFPC. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of white light-photolysis (WLP), an advanced oxidation process (AOP), for removing PAHs from PFPC, while maintaining the integrity of the fabric fibers. Experiments were carried out, varying reaction time and concentration of H 2 O 2 . With WLP (without H 2 O 2 ), it was possible to remove more than 73% of the PAHs tested from the outer layer of PFPC in 3 days. The WLP provided the greatest removal of PAHs, compared with the most common mechanical decontamination techniques (laundering and wet-soap brushing). The fibers’ integrity after exposure to the white light was evaluated with infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. In addition, a tearing strength test was performed. No remarkable fabric degradation was observed, indicating a possible, routine-compatible, simple, and inexpensive method of decontamination of PFPC, based on photolysis, which is effective in the degradation of PAHs and maintains the integrity of fabric fibers.

Keywords: photolysis; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); firefighters; personal protective equipment (PPE); proximity firefighting protective clothing (PFPC); advanced oxidation process (AOP) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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