• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.779-790
• /
• 2006

This study examines relative contributions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the formation of hydroxyl (OH) and peroxy radicals such as $HO_2$ and $RO_2$ during the intensive sampling period (Jun. $1{\sim}30$, 2004) in the air of Seoul metropolitan area. As to the contribution of VOCs to $HO_x$ levels, the impact of individual VOC concentration change on $HO_2$ concentration change was more than an order of magnitude higher than that on OH concentration change during the study period. The contribution of change in isoprene concentration to $HO_2$ concentration change was 38 times higher than OH and that in the concentration of alkene compounds to $HO_2$ concentration change was 31 times higher than OH. Moreover, the concentration changes of isoprene and aromatic compounds (AROM) played significant roles in $HO_x$ concentration changes. On the other hands, aldehydes (ALD2) and alkanes (ALKA) showed anti-correlation (negative) in $HO_x$ concentration changes with low contribution ($-4{\times}10^{-3}$ pptv/ppbv (OH) and $-58{\times}10^{-3}$ ($HO_2$) for ALD2; $-1{\times}10^{-3}$ (OH) and $-15{\times}10^{-3}$ ($HO_2$) for ALKA). Unlike other VOCs, $C_2H_6$ and $C_3H_8$ showed positive or negative contribution to peroxy radicals, depending on ambient air conditions. The contribution of VOC concentration changes to changes in $CH_3O_2$ and $RO_2$ concentration showed similar pattern to $HO_x$ contribution.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.801-810
• /
• 2013

A field study was conducted to evaluate air quality from gas stations with and without Stage II vapor recovery systems that are currently used to reduce VOCs. The THC and VOCs levels were monitored for the test at three locations (inside office, around refueling area, site boundary) from a total of five gas stations. The results showed a considerable reduction in THC concentration which ranged from 48.7% to 81.8% with and without the operation of the Stage II VRS. Acoording to our comparative analysis, BTEX and other 19 VOCs levels were also significantly reduced with Stage II vapor recovery systems.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.375-384
• /
• 2001

Optical remote sensing techniques are particularly advantageous over the conventional fixed point methods because with these methods large-area monitoring can be possible and sample preparation difficulties are avoidable. Instruments based on the differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) technique are widely used for monitoring air pollutants in urban areas in recent years. In this study, $O_3$, SO$_2$, NO$_2$, and VOCs (benzene, toluene, xylene, and styrene) are measured continuously at Sihwa industrial area using a DOAS from February to November. 1999. Intercomparison between the DOAS method and the conventional methods (filed point samplers for $O_3$, NO$_2$, and SO$_2$, and adsorbent sampling methods and gas chromatography for VOCs) are performed simultaneously at the same site. The time series of the DOAS data and that of fixed point method show good match at the view point of the tendency, but the absolute concentration values of these two methods differ quite a lot from each other; correlation coefficients shows 0.78 for $O_3$and 0.97 for SO$_2$. However, the results of VOCs measurements are not quite satisfactory ; the spectral interference with $O_2$and $O_3$appears to be the major cause of the errors for VOCs .

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 1998.11a
• /
• pp.57-59
• /
• 1998

The headspace method has been acknowledged as a cost-effective and convenient method to analyze volatile organic compounds(VOCs) in soil. The headspace analysis is based on equilibrium partitioning of VOCs among water, air and soil in a closed system. However, the headspace method cannot be applied to soils where most of the VOCs remain sorbed even at high temperature. In this study, it was investigated how the sorption characteristics of VOCs varied with soil with different organic carbon contents and temperature. This study showed that all the VOCs were volatilized, not sorved, only in the soil with 5% organic carbon at 45$^{\circ}C$ or higher. Some fraction of VOCs remained in soil with 8% organic carbon at $65^{\circ}C$ of higher. Most of the VOCs remained sorbed in soil with 12% organic content even at 95$^{\circ}C$. This result suggested that the headspace method can be applied only to soils with little organic carbon content (less than 5%). In this case, 45$^{\circ}C$ seems to be high enough to volatilize all the VOCs from soil. Large particles still showed a significant sorption capacity for VOCs from soil. Large Particles still showed a significant sorption capacity for VOCs despite of their low level of organic carbon content. It was also shown that the organic carbon sorption coefficients (Koc) of VOCs varied with soils with different organic carbon content. This suggests that not only the organic matter content of soil but also the property of the organic matter in soil influence the sorption of VOCs to soil.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
• /
• 2008.06a
• /
• pp.1220-1224
• /
• 2008

Because of the high airtightness and insulation of the building, indoor environment has been largely polluted resulted from insufficient ventilation and occurrence of new air pollutant. These factors have made worse indoor air quality and caused symptoms of the SHS(Sick House Syndrome), MCS(Multi Chemical Sensitivity). The purpose of this study is to present the fundamental strategies for improving the Indoor Air Quality(IAQ) in newly-constructed apartment buildings. To investigate the concentration of indoor air pollutants such as Formaldehyde and VOCs, the field measurement were conducted.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.77-84
• /
• 2010

The diffusion and partition coefficients of polyurethane foam (PUF) are estimated using a microbalance experiment and small chamber test. The microbalance is used to measure sorption/desorption kinetics and equilibrium data. When the diffusion condition is controlled in the chamber of the sample, interactions between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and PUF can lead to the estimation of a relatively homogenous rate of mass transfer in the interiors and surfaces of PUF. The estimates of the material/air partition coefficient (K) and the material-phase diffusion coefficient (D) are shown to be independent of the concentrations of VOCs. This approach, if applied to a diffusion-controlled or physically-based model, can facilitate more precise prediction of their source/sink behavior. Although further research and more rigorous validation is needed, an emission model applied with the diffusion and partition coefficients from this research holds promise for the improvement of reliability in predicting the behavior of VOCs emitted from porous building materials by D and K.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.221-229
• /
• 1997

Wax is a protectant for floors that is used widely in Korea and is considered an emission source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor environment. This study examined the concentration change of indoor VOCs due to waxing and also due to wiping the floor with an oiled dustcloth. VOCs were identified using a cryogenic concentration/thermal desorption system with capillary GC that utilized a liquid nitrogen cryostat and induction heating. The major components emitted from the waxing were nonane, decane, undecane, $C_2$-benzene, and $C_3$-benzene. The concentrations of nonane were 1,276 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ an hour after wax applications, 832 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ after 3 days, and less than 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥) after 15 days. Another emission source of VOCs in indoor was the oiled dustcloth used for cleaning the floor. The oiled dustcloth gave VOCs concentrations three times higher than the normal undusted floor.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.829-834
• /
• 1995

Whole column coldtrapping(WCC) on a fused silica capillary (FSCC)combined with GC/MS analysis was evaluated for use in the investigation of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) in indoor air. Research had indicated that a temperature of $-80^{\circ}C$ is optimal for WCC. Samples were analyzed on a $50m{\times}0.2mm$ cross-linked 5% phenylmethylsilicone fused silica column. Liquid nitrogen was used as the coolant for the peak resolution significantly. The analysis can be performed quickly and conveniently. More than 112 of VOCs were determined in the samples from three typical indoor environment including: (1) a room which had just been decorated involving building materials and paints; (2)a kitchen used for Chinese cooking, and (3) a room had tobacco smoke. The method is could be readily applied to rapid sample screening for VOCs contamination surveys or initial investigations with its valid and simple sampling and analytical technique.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.130-138
• /
• 2005

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been recognized as major contributor to air pollution. Catalytic oxidation in VOCs can give high efficiency at low temperature. In this study, monometallic Pt, Ir and bimetallic Pt-Ir were supported to $TiO_2$. Xylene, toluene and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) were used as reactants. The monometallic or bimetallic catalysts were prepared by the excess wetness impregnation method and characterized by XRD, XPS and TEM analysis. Result reveal that Pt catalyst has higher conversion than Ir catalyst and Pt-Ir bimetallic catalysts. The existence of multipoint actives in, Pt-Ir bimetallic catalysts gives improved performance for the Pt metalstate. Bimetallic catalysts have higher conversion for VOCs than monometallic ones. The addition, VOCs oxidation follows first order kinetics. The addition of small amount of Ir to Pt promotes oxidation conversion of VOCs.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.479-485
• /
• 1996

Volatile organic compounds are air pollutants exhausting from industrial process, evaporation of solvent, and so on. Most of VOCs are the combustible gas of low calorific value as it is diluted by air. The systems burning such a hazardous gas need to increase enthalpy in order to increase flame stability. In this study an incinerator with reciprocating flow in the honeycomb ceramic has been used for the experiment of VOCs control. By the reciprocating flow system, the enthalpy of combustion gas is effectively regenerated into the enthalpy increases of the combustible gas through the honeycomb ceramic, which provides a heat storage. The position of the reaction zone is strongly dependent on the parameters of mixture velocity and time frequency. Flame front is changed to the point where burning velocity is coincided with burning velocity in the honeycomb ceramic. In this system it is important that flame front should be located symmetrically at the center of honeycomb ceramic for the purpose of increasing the reaction rate at one point. Peak temperature becomes higher with decreasing time frequency, at which the flow direction is regularly reversed.