Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Application of Wheeler–Jonas equation and relative breakthrough time (RBT) in activated carbon beds of respirator gas filters

  • Published:
Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the use of activated carbon beds as adsorbents for various types of organic vapors in respirator gas filters, the estimation methods of breakthrough curves and breakthrough time and their applicable range of weight of the beds have been of significant concern. In this study, we prepared several types of activated carbon beds having weights of 35, 80, and 258 g that were preconditioned by equilibration with moisture at different relative humidities (RH = 40 – 70%) and a constant temperature of 293 K. Then, we measured breakthrough curves of several types of organic vapors of the beds at these RHs and temperature and investigated estimation using a theoretical formula, Wheeler–Jonas equation, and relative breakthrough time (RBT) using cyclohexane as a standard. The Wheeler–Jonas equation showed good agreement with breakthrough curves in this study, and the measured RBTs showed good agreement with the reference data by Tanaka et al., with a small number of exceptions. As a result, we confirmed that the Wheeler–Jonas equation and RBT are effectively applicable to organic vapor breakthrough data of activated carbon beds having weight even in the region of > 35 g.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  • Abiko H (2011a) Modeling of gaseous adsorption of activated carbon bed by Wheeler−Jonas equation and estimation of breakthrough time using the extended equation. TANSO 2011:133–143 (in Japanese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abiko H (2011b) Evaluation of organic vapor breakthrough time of an activated carbon bed containing moisture by Wood’s estimation model using the Wheeler−Jonas equation. TANSO 2011:185–190 (in Japanese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abiko H (2013a) Study on approximate calculation of organic vapor breakthrough curve by small size column of activated carbon. Sangyo Eiseigaku Zasshi 55:69–72 (in Japanese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abiko H (2013b) Estimation of organic vapor breakthrough time of activated carbon bed using NIOSH MultiVaporTM software. Sangyo Eiseigaku Zasshi 55:165–171 (in Japanese)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Abiko H (2014) Effect of average diameter of activated carbon granules on estimation of organic vapor breakthrough time using NIOSH MultiVaporTM software and discussion of its practical use. Sangyo Eiseigaku Zasshi 56:275–285 (in Japanese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abiko H, Furuse M, Takano T (2010a) Quantitative evaluation of the effect of moisture contents of coconut shell activated carbon used for respirators on adsorption capacity for organic vapors. Ind Health 48:52–60

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Abiko H, Furuse M, Takano T (2010b) Reduction of adsorption capacity of coconut shell activated carbon for organic vapors due to moisture contents. Ind Health 48:427–437

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Abiko H, Furuse M, Takano T (2016) Estimation of organic vapor breakthrough in humidified activated carbon beds: − Application of Wheeler-Jonas equation, NIOSH MultiVapor™ and RBT (Relative Breakthrough Time). J Occup Health 58:570–581

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Abiko H, Furuse M, Takano T (2018) Relative breakthrough time (RBT) of organic vapor in activated carbon small beds in low relative humidity environment. J Chem Eng Jpn 51:395–399

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aranda A, Díaz-de-Mera Y, Jarama I (2018) Could portable powered respirators help us avoid the exposure to air pollution? Air Qual Atmos Health 11:765–771

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Furuse M, Kanno S, Takano T, Matsumura Y (2001) Cyclohexane as an alternative vapor of carbon tetrachloride for the assessment of gas removing capacities of gas mask. Ind Health 39:1–7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka S, Nakano Y, Tsunemori K, Shimada M, Seki Y (1999) A study on the relative breakthrough time (RBT) of a respirator cartridge for forty−six kinds of organic solvent vapors. Appl Occup Environ Hyg 14:691–695

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • The National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) (2018) MultiVapor™ Version 2.2.5 Application. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/MultiVapor/MultiVapor.html Accessed 23 May 2020

  • Tsuda Y, Tsunemori K, Tanaka S (2004) A study on the relative breakthrough time (RBT) of a respirator cartridge ― effects of kind of respirator cartridge ―. Sangyo Eiseigaku Zasshi 46:171–172 (in Japanese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood GO (2004) Estimating service lives of organic vapor cartridges II: a single vapor at all humidities. J Occup Environ Hyg 1:472–492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoon YH, Nelson JH (1984a) Application of gas adsorption kinetics. I. A theoretical model for respirator cartridge service life. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 45:509–516

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoon YH, Nelson JH (1984b) Application of gas adsorption kinetics − II. A theoretical model for respirator cartridge service life and its practical applications. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 45:517–524

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was funded by National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan Organization of Occupational Health and Safety (Fundamental Research N–F31–02).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Work Environment Research Group, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan Organization of Occupational Health and Safety, 6-21-1 Nagao, Tama ward, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 214-8585, Japan

    Hironobu Abiko

  2. Center for Research Promotion and International Affairs, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan Organization of Occupational Health and Safety, Kawasaki, Japan

    Mitsuya Furuse

  3. Department of Human Engineering, National Institute of Industrial Health, 6-21-1 Nagao, Tama ward, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 214-8585, Japan

    Tsuguo Takano

Authors
  1. Hironobu Abiko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mitsuya Furuse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tsuguo Takano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hironobu Abiko.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest or competing interest in this study.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOCX 19.6 kb)

ESM 2

(DOCX 22.6 kb)

ESM 3

Schematic overview of organic vapor breakthrough in activated carbon bed and the breakthrough curve. (DOCX 63.3 kb)

ESM 4

Dependence of the correlation coefficient of the fit of our breakthrough curves by the Wheeler–Jonas equation on activated carbon bed mass in the region RH < 50% at 293 K. (DOCX 21.1 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Abiko, H., Furuse, M. & Takano, T. Application of Wheeler–Jonas equation and relative breakthrough time (RBT) in activated carbon beds of respirator gas filters. Air Qual Atmos Health 13, 1057–1063 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-020-00857-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-020-00857-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation