How an Organic Vapor Respirator Cartridge Works

Organic vapor respirator cartridges to help reduce user exposure to many different organic vapours. To achieve this objective, respirator cartridges are filled with a material called activated carbon. Activated carbon is typically made from coal or renewable resources like wood or coconut shells. It is “activated” by heating the material in nitrogen or steam at approximate temperatures of 800 – 900 °C. The resulting material has a significant number of micropores that help adsorb various organic vapours. These micropores can be measured and optimized for specific product needs and performance.

When organic vapours are drawn through an organic vapor cartridge, the air is filtered as vapours condense into the carbon pores. Vapours move through the cartridge from one pore to the next. This occurs more quickly for small volatile vapours with lower boiling points (e.g., acetone). Some migration of organic vapours can even occur during storage, so care must be taken before reusing the cartridge. The effective service life is the time until vapours begin to exit the cartridge. Unlike particle filters, service life is not indicated by change in breathing resistance. Instead, cartridges must be changed according to local regulations; endof-service-life indicator; taste, smell, or irritation from the contaminant; or according to 3M™ Service Life Software calculation, whichever comes first.