Charcoal adsorbent test apparatus and method using filter tubes

Abstract

An apparatus and method for testing the performance of a sample charcoal orbent material. The apparatus comprises means for supplying a gaseous sample containing toxic contaminants to a filtering means. The filtering means includes a filter tube containing a sample charcoal adsorbent material for adsorbing the toxic contaminants. Chemical analysis means are included for detecting toxic contaminants remaining in the gaseous effluent from the filtering means. Test animal chambers are also provided for exposing test animals contained therein to the gaseous effluent to determine the toxic effects and breathing rate changes on the test animals caused by toxic or irritating contaminants remaining in the gaseous effluent.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for testing the performance of a sample charcoal adsorbent material, comprising (a) means for supplying a gaseous sample containing contaminants to a filtering means;   (b) filtering means for removing the toxic contaminants from the gaseous sample, said filtering means including a filter tube containing a sample charcoal adsorbent material for adsorbing thereon the toxic contaminants;   (c) chemical analysis means for chemically analyzing the gaseous effluent from the filtering means to detect toxic contaminants remaining in the gaseous effluent; and   (d) test animal chambers for exposing test animals contained therein to the gaseous effluent from said filtering means to determine the toxic effects on the test animals of toxic contaminants remaining in the gaseous effluent, said test animal chambers including means for measuring respiratory changes in the test animals.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said gaseous sample supply means includes means for controlling the temperature, humidity and flow rate of the gaseous sample. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said gaseous sample supply means includes means for vaporizing a liquid sample. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said chemical analysis means comprises an infra-red spectrometer or other suitable analytical detector. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said filter tube comprises a glass tube and has a length of about 6 to 12 inches. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said means for measuring respiratory changes in the test animals comprises plethysmographic means. 
     
     
       7. A method for testing the performance of a sample charcoal adsorbent material, comprising (a) supplying a gaseous sample containing toxic contaminants to a filtering means;   (b) passing the gaseous sample through a filtering means including a filter tube containing a sample charcoal adsorbent material therein to remove the toxic contaminants from the gaseous sample;   (c) forwarding the gaseous effluent from the filtering means to a chemical analyzer to chemically analyze and detect toxic contaminants remaining in the gaseous effluent; and   (d) exposing test animals to the gaseous effluent from the filtering means in an enclosed area to determine the toxic effects on the test animals of toxic contaminants remaining in the gaseous effluent.   
     
     
       8. A method as defined by claim 7, including the preliminary step of vaporizing a liquid sample containing toxic contaminants to provide a gaseous sample containing toxic contaminants. 
     
     
       9. A method as defined by claim 7, wherein the gaseous effluent is chemically analyzed using an infra-red spectrometer or other appropriate analytical detector. 
     
     
       10. A method as defined by claim 7, including the step of controlling the temperature, humidity and flow rate of the gaseous sample. 
     
     
       11. A method as defined by claim 7, including the further step of measuring the respiratory response of the test animals to the gaseous effluent. 
     
     
       12. A method as defined by claim 11, wherein the respiratory response of the test animals is measured using plethysmographic means. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein said chemical analysis means comprises an analytical detector. 
     
     
       14. A method as defined by claim 7, wherein the gaseous effluent is chemically analyzed using an analytical detector.