Abstract

The service life of respirator cartridges depends on the contaminant, the environmental conditions under which they are used, the properties of the charcoal and the characteristics of the cartridge. Some mathematical models make it possible to estimate the service life of cartridges used to protect workers from organic vapours. These models also make it possible for employers to manage respirator cartridge change schedules.

There is no similar tool for respirator cartridges used against acid gases, such as sulphur dioxide, chlorine or hydrogen sulphide. Some cartridge manufacturers provide data about the performance of their products, while others do not.

This activity will assess the performance of respirator cartridges under standard conditions of use in order to validate manufacturer data, for sulphur dioxide in particular, and to better understand the effects of environmental conditions on service life. The researchers envisage building a predictive model of the service life of these cartridges in the presence of sulphur dioxide, and will later include the presence of other acid gases.