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4121089 
Journal Article 
A Rapid, Nondestructive Field Test for Determining the Adsorptive Capacity of Respirator Cartridges 
Underhill, DW 
1988 
Yes 
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
ISSN: 0002-8894 
NIOSH/00180151 
49 
5 
235-236 
A simple, efficient, and nondestructive field test for the adsorptive capacity of respirator cartridges based on argon adsorption and desorption was described. In this test, a high concentration of a very lightly adsorbed material was used instead of a low concentration of a heavily adsorbed compound. The adsorbents tested included pumice, Calgon Carbon-12X40GW, and Calgon Carbon-ASC. Two experiments were conducted. The first experiment involved flushing the adsorbent with argon followed by helium and determining adsorptive capacity from argon desorption. The second experiment involved flushing the adsorbent with helium followed by argon and determining adsorbent capacity from argon adsorption. Argon desorption and adsorption were measured by wet test meters as the difference between the volumes of influent helium and effluent gases and the difference in volume between inflowing argon and effluent gases, respectively.