Abstract

The sorption and subsequent desorption of formaldehyde (CH/sub 2/O) vapor from unpainted gypsum wallboard have been investigated in environmental chamber experiments conducted at 23 /sup 0/C, 50% relative humidity, an air exchange to board loading ratio of 0.43 m/h, and CH/sub 2/O concentrations ranging from 0 to 0.50 mg/m/sup 3/. Both CH/sub 2/O sorption and CH/sub 2/O desorption processes are described by a three-parameter, single-exponential model with an exponential lifetime of 2.9 +/- 0.1 days. The storage capacity of gypsum board for CH/sub 2/O vapor results in a time-dependent buffer to changes in CH/sub 2/O vapor concentration surrounding the board but appears to cause only a weak, permanent loss mechanism for CH/sub 2/O vapor. Prior to significant depletion of sorbed CH/sub 2/O, desorption rates from CH/sub 2/O-exposed gypsum board exhibit a linear dependence with negative slope on CH/sub 2/O vapor concentration. Analogous CH/sub 2/O emissions properties have been observed for pressed-wood products bonded with urea-formaldehyde resins. 17 references, 5 figures.

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