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Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Respirator Cartridges: Single Purpose vs. Combination
Date: Monday, October 25, 2021 at 9:57:05 PM
Author: Harry J. Elston <harry**At_Symbol_Here**MIDWESTCHEMSAFETY.COM> 		Next by Date:
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Training
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2021 05:59:43 -0400
Author: Richard Palluzi

From: John Callen <jbcallen**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Respirator Cartridges: Single Purpose vs. Combination
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 2021 21:49:19 -0500
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: 323F4D62-FD41-4BAA-BF7A-CF340C358D72**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com
In-Reply-To


Patricia,

In general, yes, there might be a difference in performance.

The best way to describe this is to reference the NIOSH Cartridge Bench Tests for Organic Vapors (OV), Acid Gas (AG), and Organic Vapors and Acid Gas (OV/AG) Cartridges: 42 CFR Part 84, Subpart L:

  • OV cartridges are tested against CCl4 at a concentration of 1,000 ppm and must last a minimum life of 50 minutes before 5 ppm breaks through.  

  • AG cartridges are tested against Cl2 at a concentration of 500 ppm and must last a minimum life of 35 minutes before 5 ppm breaks through.

  • OV/AG cartridges are tested against CCl4 and Cl2 at the above stated concentrations, however, must last a minimum life of one-half of the above stated times before 5 ppm breaks through.

It is always best to check with your respirator cartridge manufacturer of choice to help determine how long the cartridges last in the work place before you get breakthrough.  It maybe possible that a given manufacturer's cartridges based upon their technology, last way in excess of the minimum requirements.  It is very important and as part of your respiratory protection program to determine the concentration(s) in air to which the worker is exposed by monitoring the air quality in the workplace for  specific contaminant(s).

As an example, using the 3M End-of-Service-Life software for acetone with the 3M 6001 OV and 3M 6003 OV/AG cartridges, here are some results.

3M 6001 OV Cartridge Service Life Estimate: 328 minutes until breakthrough to 10% of the exposure concentration (3 ppm)
Based on environmental conditions: relative humidity <65%, 1 ATM, 68 =B0F, Heavy Work (Acetone, 30ppm)
3M 6001 OV Service Life Estimate: 159 minutes until breakthrough to 1/2 of the exposure limit (125 ppm)Based on environmental conditions: relative humidity <65%, 1 ATM, 68 =B0F, Heavy Work (Acetone, 300ppm)
3M 6003 OV/AG Service Life Estimate: 296 minutes until breakthrough to 10% of the exposure concentration (3 ppm)Based on environmental conditions: relative humidity <65%, 1 ATM, 68 =B0F, Heavy Work (Acetone, 30ppm)
3M 6003 OV/AG Service Life Estimate: 141 minutes until breakthrough to 1/2 of the exposure limit (125 ppm)Based on environmental conditions: relative humidity <65%, 1 ATM, 68 =B0F, Heavy Work (Acetone, 300ppm)
Please be aware that I used acetone as the example because it is pervasive in most university and various other research laboratories.  The above results come with the following warnings considering that acetone has a boiling point of 132.8 =B0F (56 =B0C)

"Warnings

  • Organic vapors adsorbed on an organic vapor cartridge can migrate through the carbon bed without airflow. Desorption of the contaminant after partial use of the chemical cartridge can occur after a short period (hours) without use (eg., overnight). This is most significant for the most volatile and poorly retained organic vapors (eg., boiling point < 65 degrees C). For organic vapors with a boiling point less than 65 degrees C, it is recommended that the organic vapor cartridge never be used longer than one shift even if the estimated service life is greater than 8 hours and the cartridge is used for only a short time during the shift.
  • Service life is based on an organic vapor which can migrate through the cartridge during storage. Please consider estimated service life as time from first use."
As you know, OV, AG and OV/AG maybe used for respiratory protection up to 10 x PEL for half facepiece respirators and up to 50 x PEL for full facepiece respirators with other limitations possibly coming into play.  Generally speaking and because of eye irritation, a full facepiece respirator is recommended for exposure to Cl2 in preference to a half facepiece respirator with gas-tight goggles.

As always, if you have any further questions, please let me know.  Thanks!

All My Best,

John B. Callen, Ph.D.
3M Personal Safety Division - Retired
ACS/DCHAS Founding Member
(312) 632-0195 



On Oct 25, 2021, at 18:27, Patricia Leach <Patricia.Leach**At_Symbol_Here**TAMUC.EDU> wrote:

Is there any difference in performance?

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 25, 2021, at 17:46, John Callen <jbcallen**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com> wrote:

=EF=BB=BF **External Email**

Patricia,

There are distinct differences among the various cartridges according to what NIOSH approves them for use in the workplace.

Organic Vapor Cartridges are NIOSH approved only for Organic Vapors.  The cartridges is color coded black.

Acid Gas Cartridges are NIOSH approved for Chlorine, Hydrogen Chloride, Sulfur Dioxide, Chlorine Dioxide and Hydrogen Sulfide Gases.  The cartridges are color coded white.

Organic Vapor/Acid Gas Cartridges are generally approved for Organic Vapors and Chlorine, Hydrogen Chloride, Sulfur Dioxide, Chlorine Dioxide and Hydrogen Sulfide Gases.  The cartridges are color coded yellow.

If the areas of use for exposure of chlorine gas are separate and distinct from the use for exposure to organic vapors and vice versa, then you could select acid gas cartridges for exposure to chlorine gas and organic vapor cartridges for exposure to organic vapors. On the contrary,  if exposure will be to both chlorine and organic vapors or you would like to consolidate to just one cartridge for exposure to chlorine gas and organic vapors, then you would select the organic vapor/acid gas cartridges.  Most companies opt for selecting the organic vapor/acid gas cartridges since it will avoid confusion and consolidate to just one cartridge for inventory purposes.

If you have any additional questions, please let me know.  Thanks!

All My Best,

John B. Callen, Ph.D.
3M Personal Safety Division - Retired
ACD/DCHAS Founding Member
(312) 632-0195







On Oct 25, 2021, at 16:47, Ralph Stuart <membership**At_Symbol_Here**DCHAS.ORG> wrote:

From: Patricia Leach <Patricia.Leach**At_Symbol_Here**tamuc.edu>
Re: Respirator Cartridges: Single Purpose vs. Combination

Hello,
I am in the process of learning more about respirator cartridges. We are getting ready to make a large purchase (for us) of cartridges. We need some for use against chlorine and some organic vapor cartridges. I was wondering if there is a difference between using, say an acid gas cartridge vs. an acid gas/organic vapor cartridge.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Patricia Leach
Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator
Emergency Management and Safety
Texas A&M University - Commerce
P: 903.468.3278
C: 316.644.8255

Mail: P.O. Box 3011, Commerce, TX 75429

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