Adsorption of Chlorine Dioxide Gas on Activated Carbons

Abstract

Research and field experience with chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) gas to decontaminate structures contaminated with Bacillus anthracis spores and other microorganisms have demonstrated the effectiveness of this sterilant technology. However, because of its hazardous properties, the unreacted ClO₂ gas must be contained and captured during fumigation events. Although activated carbon has been used during some decontamination events to capture the ClO₂ gas, no data are available to quantify the performance of the activated carbon in terms of adsorption capacity and other sorbent property operational features. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine and compare the ClO₂ adsorption capacities of five different types of activated carbon as a function of the challenge ClO₂ concentration. Tests were also conducted to investigate other sorbent properties, including screening tests to determine gaseous species desorbed from the saturated sorbent upon warming (to provide an indication of how immobile the ClO₂ gas and related compounds are once captured on the sorbent). In the adsorption tests, ClO₂ gas was measured continuously using a photometric-based instrument, and these measurements were verified with a noncontinuous method utilizing wet chemistry analysis. The results show that the simple activated carbons (not impregnated or containing other activated sorbent materials) were the most effective, with maximum adsorption capacities of approximately 110 mg/g. In the desorption tests, there was minimal release of ClO₂ from all sorbents tested, but desorption levels of chlorine (Cl₂) gas (detected as chloride) varied, with a maximum release of nearly 15% of the mass of ClO₂ adsorbed.