VOC measurements in paint workshops

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the results of volatile organic compound (VOC) measurements undertaken in several paint workshops. The sampling techniques of gaseous atmospheres loaded with paints vapors were also tested. Over 65 compounds were inserted into the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) library while disclosed concentrations varied between 5 and 80 mg/scm and a good connection was established between the paint analyses and the sampled atmospheres. Chromatograms were adapted to visualize a maximum of representative compounds (or families) and chosen alternatively (one ambience analysis, one paint analysis). From an analytical point of view, the flaws of the sampling technique using activated charcoal cartridges have been shown while the sampling technique with TEDLA ® bags proved sufficient. The correlation method of ambience analyses with analyses of air loaded with VOC by bubbling in paints appears as a useful tool for helping the identification of present volatile compounds; moreover, the analyses carried out on the paint is a useful indicator for the determination of the nature and the proportions of volatile compounds which will be emitted in the ambiences during paint application.