A Method for Analysis of Oxygen Breathing Apparatus (OBA) Type II Canisters.

A method was devised to rapidly release the chemical reaction products from Oxygen Breathing Apparatus OBA Type II canisters in a closed system. This procedure permitted accurate chemical analyses without the atmospheric interferences inherent in the conventional approach to OBA canister analyses. The available O2 was released by immersion of the entire canister, with its charge intact, in a known amount of water, in such a manner that all O2 was collected and measured volumetrically. Analysis of the water for total KOH and K2CO3, formed upon dissolving the canister contents, permitted quantitation of the amount of CO2 absorbed during canister use and the total amount of O2 available in the unused canisters. The charge composition of the Type II canisters, on a mole fraction basis, was estimated by analysis of 17 unused canisters and was found to be 92, KO2, 7 K2O2 and 1 K2CO3.