Effect of the Average Pore Size on the Adsorption Capacity and Off-Gassing Characteristics of Activated Carbon Fabrics for Decontamination of Surfaces

Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center (ECBC) has been developing decontaminating absorbent/adsorbent wipes that are designed to remove the contaminant from a surface and entrap it into the structure of the wipe without leaving undesirable residues behind. Activated carbon fabric is the active component for these developmental wipes. The agent retention capacity and the agent off-gassing characteristics of the wipes are a function of the pore size distribution of the activated carbon fabric. Significant differences have been observed in the agent retention and off-gassing properties of microporous fabrics, where the majority of the pores are smaller than 2 nm, and of mesoporous fabrics that contain a significant population of pores that are larger than 2 nm. The adsorption capacity and off gassing properties of activated carbon fabrics that range in average pore size from less than 1 nm to 3 nm are presented for the chemical warfare agent HD, a vesicant, and for one of its simulants.