Metal impregnation influence on the adsorbents efficiency towards radioiodine (respirator filters adsorbents)

This work investigates the penetration depth of airborne radioiodine through beds of solid porous adsorbent. An important part of this work was developing an experimental test bench for testing adsorbents under flow conditions (dynamic adsorption). We focused on adsorbents used in commercial respirator filters, for practical reasons. Test conditions simulated respirators service conditions in two concentration ranges: (a) most tests were run in the radiotoxic concentration range. (b) few tests were run in the chemotoxic concentration range. The main findings are: (a) the porous adsorbents tested have adsorption characteristics that dacrease exponentially with bed depth. (b) metal ions impregnations increase radioiodine adsorption. (c) it seems that the 'Israeli' respirator filter doesn't protect against radioactive iodine. (d) the most efficient radioiodine respirator filter is Draeger's 'Reaktor' filter. For practical reasons almost all other filters have sufficient decontamination factors. (e) our experimental test bench is reliable and safe in use. (author)