Stephen P. Berardinelli

Permeation of Chemical Protective Clothing by Three Binary Solvent Mixtures

An evaluation of glove materials against three different binary chemical mixtures selected from common industrial solvents was conducted. Changes in breakthrough time and permeation rate of the mixture components were evaluated as a function of the mixture composition. An increase in employee risk resulting from early mixture breakthrough time and enhanced mixture permeation rate over that of the pure chemicals was demonstrated. The permeation of a binary mixture through chemical protective clothing could not be predicted by the permeation results of the pure components. It is recommended that chemical protective clothing be tested for its permeation characteristics with the use of the chemical mixtures and conditions that reflect the work site exposure.

Chemical Protective Clothing Breakthrough Time: Comparison of Several Test Systems

This study compared chemical permeation data obtained with a photo-ionization detector in both open- and closed-loop test systems. Also, chemical permeation data obtained at two flow rates with an infrared detector in a closed-loop test system were compared. Breakthrough times for acetone-neoprene were obtained using all systems. Results were evaluated and determined to be system dependent.

Site-specific whole glove chemical permeation

This study explored chemical permeation of latex neoprene gloves by acetone. Twenty-three specific glove sites were monitored to determine the breakthrough time and the challenge liquid concentration at steady-state. In summation, the thinnest parts of the gloves, which are the backs, the palms, and the interstices between the fingers, exhibited the shortest breakthrough times and largest steady-state concentrations. The thickest parts of the gloves, the fingertips, exhibited the longest breakthrough times and least steady-state concentrations. The backs or palms are appropriate specimens to use for chemical permeation testing.

Chemical Protective Clothing: A Comparison of Chemical Permeation Test Cells and Direct-Reading Instruments

Chemical permeation of acetone through unsupported Neoprene using the ASTM cell and another commercially-available, but smaller, test cell was compared. Also, different portable direct-reading instruments were used to determine breakthrough time and steady-state permeation. The breakthrough times between the two permeation cells and among different portable direct-reading instruments were not statistically different. However, steady-state permeation rates between the two cells using the same direct-reading instrument were statistically different. Chemical permeation test methods suitable for field evaluation of chemical protective clothing are discussed.

Evaluation of chemical protective garment seams and closures for resistance to liquid penetration

Chemical penetration is defined as bulk flow of liquid through porous materials, closures, pinholes, seams, or imperfections in protective clothing material. The objective of this research was to evaluate bulky seams and closures for resistance to liquid penetration, using the ASTM Test for Resistance of Protective Clothing Materials to Penetration by Liquids (F 903-84). The test cell in this method is a mechanical device which costs less than

Permeation of Eleven Protective Garment Materials By Four Organic Solvents

1000. A modification of the test cell was used throughout the course of this study. The test cell and cell modification are explained in detail. Penetration of the challenge chemical was determined by visual inspection of the protective clothing material in the cell. The specimen was mounted in the test cell, then charged with a challenge liquid. The specimen was observed after 5 min at atmospheric pressure, and then after 10 min at 13.8 kPa (2 psig). The appearance of a drop of liquid indicated failure. Eight different bulky seams and closures were evaluated against several liquids by this test method. Chemical penetration data for control specimens (specimens without seams or closures), seams, and closures demonstrate the utility of this test method. Problems associated with the sealing of these bulky items into the test cell, as well as with the solutions were critically evaluated.

The Use of 3M Porous Polymer Extraction Discs in Assessing Protective Clothing Chemical Permeation

The resistance of 11 different protective garment materials to permeation by epichlorohydrin, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, and 1,2-dibromoethane were determined. Water was the collection medium in the epichlorohydrin tests with samples taken periodically and analyzed by gas chromatography. Because of the relatively low solubilities of the other three challenge liquids in water, air was used as the collection medium. The concentrations of the permeant vapors in an airstream which passed across the downstream sides of the membranes were determined automatically every 2 min with a flame ionization detector. Butyl rubber offers good protection against epichlorohydrin, with breakthrough occurring after 8 hrs. With the halogenated hydrocarbons, Viton and Vitrile provide protection for at least 12 and 24 hrs, respectively, while PVA showed no breakthrough in 24 hrs with trichloroethylene and dibromoethane. With perchloroethylene, nitrile breakthrough occurred in 5 hrs. The weight and volume changes which occurred when the materials were soaked in each of the challenge liquids were also determined. The log of these changes correlated moderately well with the log of the breakthrough time normalized by the square of the material thickness.

A Quantitative Study of Aromatic Amine Permeation Through Protective Gloves Using Amine Adsorptive Pads

The aim of the study was to assess the use of 3M porous polymer extraction discs (3M Empore sorbent filters) for detection of chemical permeation of protective clothing. Analysis of some commonly used solvents on 3M Empore sorbent filters was performed for methanol, acetone, trichloroethylene (TriCE), and toluene by solvent desorption and gas chromatography. All solvents exhibited >98 percent adsorption on the filters at a spiking level of 1.8 microL for each solvent. Solvent recovery for the system was calculated for each solvent, ranging from 72-94 percent (RSD < or = 4.0%) for all solvents over the spiking range 0.2-1.8 microL. The modified ASTM F739 method was used to determine breakthrough times for five protective glove materials (polyvinyl chloride, natural rubber, polymerized alkene, nitrile, and nitrile butyl rubber) using the model solvents as test chemicals. Breakthrough times for each type of protective glove were determined, and found to range from 36 s to 9 min for acetone, from 142 s to 52 min for methanol, from 18 s to 12 min for TriCE, and from 32 s to 28 min for toluene. The quantitative mass of the solvents on the filters at the time of breakthrough detection ranged from 150-159, 157-166, 570-581, and 371-382 microg/cm2 for acetone, methanol, TriCE, and toluene, respectively. The sorbent filter should find utility in collecting chemical permeation samples through protective gloves in both laboratory and field studies for quantitative analysis.

Recovery of some common solvents from protective clothing breakthrough indicator pads by microwave–solvent extraction and gas chromatography

A quantitative study of aromatic amine permeation through a glove material using Permea-Tec aromatic amine pads, used for the detection of chemical breakthrough of protective clothing, was performed for aniline following the microwave extraction process and gas chromatographic analysis. Aniline exhibited >99% adsorption on the pads at a spiking level of 1.94 mg (1.9 microL). Aniline showed recoveries from 65 to 89% (RSD < or =5.6%) over the range 1.1-1.9 microL (1.12-1.94 mg) of aniline applied to pads. The modified ASTM F739 and direct permeability testing procedures were used to determine breakthrough times for five protective glove materials using aniline as a challenge chemical. Breakthrough times for six protective gloves were determined, ranging from 182 sec to 82 min. The quantitative concentration of aniline on the pads following permeation through the gloves also was determined, ranging from 0.53 to 0.55 mg/cm2 (1.79-1.88 mg/pad).

Methyl isocyanate liquid and vapor permeation through selected respirator diaphragms and chemical protective clothing

The efficiency of solvent adsorption using Permea-Tec general solvent pads, used for the detection of chemical breakthrough of protective clothing, was determined for methanol, acetone, ethyl methyl ketone, trichloroethylene (TriCE), tetrachloroethylene (TetCE), toluene, m-xylene, and D-limonene. Known volumes of single or mixed solvents were added to pads in the range 0.2-5.0 microliters (0.16-8.13 micrograms). After microwave-solvent extraction (ME) into hexan-1-ol, the samples (0.5-3.0 microliters) of the filtered and extracted solutions were analyzed by gas chromatography. All solvents exhibited > 97% adsorption on the pads at spiking levels of 0.48-0.98 microgram for each solvent. The solvent recovery for the system was calculated for each solvent, with solvents with boiling points below 110 degrees C showing recoveries of > 90%, and with solvents with boiling points above 110 degrees C showing recoveries from 80 to 90%. The recovery precision was good (RSD < or = 4%) for all solvents over the range 1.0-2.5 microliters of applied solvents to pads for ME and 1.0 microliter of extracted solutions for GC analysis.