The invention relates to a low pressure drop personal protection device for providing protection against a range of toxic industrial chemicals and chemical warfare agents and capable of being worn by a wide range of users. The device comprises: a flexible polymeric hood in which the polymer is selected to be impermeable to the toxic challenge molecules; a neck seal for sealing the hood about the neck;a half mask for providing connection for a canister; and a low pressure drop canister system for providing chemical protection. The canister may comprise a resiliently flexible, closed cell foam and monolithic activated carbons, the foam having holes slightly smaller than the size of the monoliths so that flow through the canister is through the monoliths. The monoliths may be the result of partially curing a phenolic resin to a solid, comminuting the partially cured resin, extruding the comminuted resin, sintering the extruded resin so as to produce a form-stable sintered product and carbonising and activating configurable the form-stable sintered product. They may be between 5 and 40 mm diameter, preferably 15 to 30 mm and 1-3 cm in length. Each monolith may have a square channel structure wherein the channel size is 100-2000μ and the wall thickness may be 100-2000 μm with an open area of between about 30 and 60%. It may have a surface area of at least 700 m2/g, may be activated to >30 wt % weight loss and may be impregnated with materials selected from metallic additives and triethylene diamine according to the anticipated challenge.

A low pressure drop device for personal protection against toxic industrial chemicals and chemical warfare agents has a flexible polymer hood impermeable to toxic challenge molecules, a neck seal for sealing the hood about the neck, a half mask for connection to a canister and a low pressure drop canister for chemical protection. The canister contains carbon monoliths of 5- 40 mm diameter, length 1-3 cm, open area 30-60%, surface area ≥700 m.sup.2/g optionally activated to >30 wt % weight loss and optionally impregnated with metallic additives and/or triethylene diamine. The monoliths have square channels of size 100-2000 μm and wall thickness 100-2000 μm. It also contains a resiliently flexible closed cell foam with holes slightly smaller than the monoliths so that flow through the canister is through the monoliths.

A low pressure drop device for personal protection against toxic industrial chemicals and chemical warfare agents has a flexible polymer hood impermeable to toxic challenge molecules, a neck seal for sealing the hood about the neck, a half mask for connection to a canister and a low pressure drop canister for chemical protection. The canister contains carbon monoliths of 5- 40 mm diameter, length 1-3 cm, open area 30-60%, surface area ≥700 m.sup.2/g optionally activated to >30 wt % weight loss and optionally impregnated with metallic additives and/or triethylene diamine. The monoliths have square channels of size 100-2000 μm and wall thickness 100-2000 μm. It also contains a resiliently flexible closed cell foam with holes slightly smaller than the monoliths so that flow through the canister is through the monoliths.

Systems are provided for a vaporizer gas mixer. The system includes a one-piece body; a gas inlet passage and a gas outlet passage; a first flow path fluidically coupled to the gas inlet passage and the gas outlet passage, the first flow path having a plurality of curves; and a second flow path fluidically coupled to the first flow path and a vaporizing chamber, wherein the first flow path and the second flow path merge after the gas inlet passage and before the plurality of curves. The second flow path includes curves extending in different planes.

Systems are provided for a vaporizer gas mixer. The system includes a one-piece body; a gas inlet passage and a gas outlet passage; a first flow path fluidically coupled to the gas inlet passage and the gas outlet passage, the first flow path having a plurality of curves; and a second flow path fluidically coupled to the first flow path and a vaporizing chamber, wherein the first flow path and the second flow path merge after the gas inlet passage and before the plurality of curves. The second flow path includes curves extending in different planes.

A chemical cartridge or an oxygen generating breathing apparatus includes an outer canister and an inner canister with an interior space. At least one alkali hyperoxide or earth alkali hyperoxide that can act as an electrolyte in the presence of moisture and at least one first metallic material are provided in the interior space of the inner canister. At least one second metallic material is provided between the inner canister and the outer canister or is at least partially integrated into the outer canister wall. Between the inner canister including the first metallic material and the outer canister including the second metallic material an ion-permeable material is arranged such that the cartridge generates electrical power when in use by creating a potential between the first metallic material and the second metallic material when the at least one alkali hyperoxide or earth alkali hyperoxide is contacted by CO.sub.2 and moisture.

A chemical cartridge or an oxygen generating breathing apparatus includes an outer canister and an inner canister with an interior space. At least one alkali hyperoxide or earth alkali hyperoxide that can act as an electrolyte in the presence of moisture and at least one first metallic material are provided in the interior space of the inner canister. At least one second metallic material is provided between the inner canister and the outer canister or is at least partially integrated into the outer canister wall. Between the inner canister including the first metallic material and the outer canister including the second metallic material an ion-permeable material is arranged such that the cartridge generates electrical power when in use by creating a potential between the first metallic material and the second metallic material when the at least one alkali hyperoxide or earth alkali hyperoxide is contacted by CO.sub.2 and moisture.

A respirator (100) includes a face mask (130), a porous filter (230) comprising a filtration material, an air flow system (120) in fluid communication with the porous filter (230) and the face mask (130), and an oxidant generator (850) configured to produce at least one oxidant. The air flow system (120) includes an enclosed container (121) and a blower (310) housed within the enclosed container (121). The air flow system (120) is configured to generate a flow of air such that ambient air passes through the porous filter (230) to the face mask (130). At least one contaminant in the flow of air is adsorbed by the porous filter (230), and the filtration material catalyzes an oxidation reaction between the oxidant and the contaminant to promote decomposition of the contaminant on the porous filter (230). According to another aspect, provided is an air purification system including at least one respirator (100) and a decontamination device (800).

A gas treatment apparatus, suitable for use in an air purifying apparatus for the production of breathable air, includes a catalyst including palladium and iron oxide and a source of a volatile nitrogen-containing compound. The apparatus is useful in gas masks, emergency escape hoods and static air treatment apparatus.

A chemical cartridge or an oxygen generating breathing apparatus includes an outer canister and an inner canister with an interior space. At least one alkali hyperoxide or earth alkali hyperoxide that can act as an electrolyte in the presence of moisture and at least one first metallic material are provided in the interior space of the inner canister. At least one second metallic material is provided between the inner canister and the outer canister or is at least partially integrated into the outer canister wall. Between the inner canister including the first metallic material and the outer canister including the second metallic material an ion-permeable material is arranged such that the cartridge generates electrical power when in use by creating a potential between the first metallic material and the second metallic material when the at least one alkali hyperoxide or earth alkali hyperoxide is contacted by CO.sub.2 and moisture.