Development of a Field Method for Evaluating the Service Life of Organic Vapor Cartridges: Results of Laboratory Testing Using Carbon Tetrachloride

A new method for determining the service life of respirator cartridges has been developed and tested in a laboratory setting. The method involves using small respirator carbon tubes (RCTs) packed with sorbent obtained from a respirator cartridge of interest. The tubes may be taken into an industrial setting and used to evaluate the work environment. A sample tube is placed directly behind the RCT and periodically replaced. This tube acts as a backup section to the RCT. The sample tube can be brought back to a laboratory and analyzed for the contaminant of interest using validated sampling methods specific for the contaminant. Alternatively, a direct-reading instrument can be placed at the exit end of the RCT to obtain “real-time” breakthrough information. The results, when combined with existing sorbent theories, can be used to predict the service life of a respirator cartridge. The advantage of using RCTs is that, unlike respirator cartridges, they can be taken into the field and used with traditional hi...