the science of activated carbon

From: J to the L (larco_at_total.net)
Date: 10/24/04 

Date: 24 Oct 2004 13:56:32 -0700

I have had mixed info about respirators while using paint stripper
whose main ingedient is methylene chloride.

One source states that your cartridge is killed when exposed to
methylene chloride and uses up all the bonding sites.

Another source told me that due to Van der Waals forces (which I don't
quite understand) the methylene chloride bonds briefly but then
releases itself allowing it to pass through the cartridge. ie. doesn't
kill cartridge

Can someone give me the details on this. Thanks

Joe Workman