Methods and results of characterization of organic emissions from an indoor material

Abstract

The method and example results for the determination of organic air emissions from a common indoor material are presented. A well instrumented and characterized 0.166-m 3 stainless steel test chamber is used to ventilate sample materials at controlled air change rates, temperature and relative humidity. The test chamber outlet air stream is sampled using Tenax ® (1.6g) filled glass cartridges. The Tenax ® sample cartridges are then thermally desorbed for further concentration onto a Nutech ® model 8528 purge and trap system and desorption to a packed column gas Chromatograph for analysis. Organic emissions are quantified on a species specific basis and total organics basis. Test chamber concentrations of total organics for a waterbased adhesive are observed to diminish with time. Calculated emission rates for the floor adhesive were determined to be 95μg g −1 h −1 after ventilation at 1.77 air changes per hour for 10 h and 259 μg g −1 h −1 after 24-h ventilation at 3.6 air changes per hour.