Types Of VOCs Research Articles

Probing into regional O3 and particulate matter pollution in the United States: 2. An examination of formation mechanisms through a process analysis technique and sensitivity study

Following a comprehensive model evaluation in part 1, this part 2 paper describes results from 1 year process analysis and a number of sensitivity simulations using the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system aimed to understand the formation mechanisms of O3 and PM2.5, their impacts on global environment, and implications for pollution control policies. Process analyses show that the most influential processes for O3 in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) are vertical and horizontal transport, gas‐phase chemistry, and dry deposition and those for PM2.5 are primary PM emissions, horizontal transport, PM processes, and cloud processes. Exports of O3 and Ox from the U.S. PBL to free troposphere occur primarily in summer and at a rate of 0.16 and 0.65 Gmoles day−1, respectively. In contrast, export of PM2.5 is found to occur during all seasons and at rates of 25.68–34.18 Ggrams day−1, indicating a need to monitor and control PM2.5 throughout the year. Among nine photochemical indicators examined, the most robust include PH2O2/PHNO3, HCHO/NOy, and HCHO/NOz in winter and summer, H2O2/(O3 + NO2) in winter, and NOy in summer. They indicate a VOC‐limited O3 chemistry in most areas in winter, but a NOx‐limited O3 chemistry in most areas except for major cities in April–November, providing a rationale for nationwide NOx emission control and integrated control of NOx and VOCs emissions for large cities during high O3 seasons (May–September). For sensitivity of PM2.5 to its precursors, the adjusted gas ratio provides a more robust indicator than that without adjustment, especially for areas with insufficient sulfate neutralization in winter. NH4NO3 can be formed in most of the domain. Integrated control of emissions of PM precursors such as SO2, NOx, and NH3 are necessary for PM2.5 attainment. Among four types of VOCs examined, O3 formation is primarily affected by isoprene and low molecular weight anthropogenic VOCs, and PM2.5 formation is affected largely by terpenes and isoprene. Under future emission scenarios, surface O3 may increase in summer; surface PM2.5 may increase or decrease. With 0.71°C increase in future surface temperatures in summer, surface O3 may increase in most of the domain and surface PM2.5 may decrease in the eastern U.S. but increase in the western U.S.

Gas phase degradation of acetone using a TiO2 photocatalyst supported on a polyester fabric

The feasibility of using a titanium dioxide photocatalyst supported on polyester fabric for the removal of low concentrations of VOCs was evaluated. A series of experiments was conducted to evaluate photocatalytic efficiency in terms of the following: catalytic activity; reaction temperature; influence of mass transfer and type of VOC.

Comparison of strategies to improve indoor air quality at the pre-occupancy stage in new apartment buildings

Indoor air quality of new apartment buildings, which is known to cause Sick Housing Syndrome, has become a major concern among apartment residents as well as construction companies in Korea. Recently, the Indoor Air Quality Management Act, a regulation that limits concentration levels of formaldehyde and five volatile organic compounds in new apartment buildings, has been implemented. In this study, the effects of ventilation and decomposing agents were investigated and compared, which could be used at the pre-occupancy stage as solutions to high VOCs concentration levels in new apartment buildings. Six housing units were investigated under different conditions to assess the extent of the improvement in indoor air quality. The results demonstrate that ventilation is an effective way to control indoor air pollution caused by VOCs emissions, and the effect of decomposing agents on improving indoor air quality depends on the types of VOCs.

Location and Characterization of Emission Sources for Airborne Volatile Organic Compounds Inside a Refinery in Taiwan

This study aimed to locate VOC emission sources and characterized their emitted VOCs. To avoid interferences from vehicle exhaust, all sampling sites were positioned inside the refinery. Samples, taken with canisters, were analyzed by GC-MS according to TO-14 method. The survey period extended from Febrary 2004 to December 2004, sampling twice per season. To interpret a large number of VOC data was a rather difficult task. This study featured using ordinary application software, Excel and Surfer, instead of expensive one like GIS, to overcome it. Consolidating data into a database on Excel facilitated retrieval, statistical analysis and presentation in the form of either table or graph. The cross analysis of the data suggested that the abundant VOCs were alkanes, alkenes, aromatics and cyclic HCs. Emission sources were located by mapping the concentration distribution of these four types of VOCs in terms of contour maps on Surfer. During eight surveys, five emission sources were located and their VOCs were characterized.

Aqueous degradation of VOCs in the ozone combined with hydrogen peroxide or UV radiation processes1. Experimental results

Trichloroethane, TCA, and trichloroethylene, TCE, have been taken as model compounds to study the elimination of volatile organochlorine compounds present in surface waters with ozone combined with hydrogen peroxide or UV radiation. The effect of gas flow rate, water type (surface and ultrapure water), hydrogen peroxide concentration and oxidation type (ozonation alone, UV radiation alone and combined ozonation with hydrogen peroxide or UV radiation) have been observed on the elimination of VOCs. Reactions of ozone in this system develop in the slow kinetic regime of absorption except when a concentration of hydrogen peroxide higher than 10‐3 M is applied. Rates of VOC elimination follow pseudo first order kinetics and can be represented by the contribution of four terms due to volatility, hydroxyl radical oxidation, direct reaction with ozone and direct photolysis, the latter two in the case of TCE. Because of the elevated vapor pressure, volatility is the only way of elimination of TCA when treated at 20 Lh‘1 in spite of the presence of ozone and hydrogen peroxide. At low gas flow rate, 2.5 Lh‐1, volatility of TCA still represents 85% of elimination rate. For TCE, hydroxyl radical oxidation can be, in some cases, the main pathway of oxidation followed by volatility. In all cases, hydroxyl radical oxidation contribution is increased when the oxidation is carried out in ultrapure water. Combination of ozone with hydrogen peroxide or UV radiation leads to oxidation rates two to three times those due to volatility, depending on the gas flow rate applied and type of VOC.

Sorption and diffusion of VOCs in DAY zeolite and silicalite-filled PDMS membranes

The sorption and diffusion properties of ethanol, 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) and trichloroethylene (TCE) were determined in silicalite-filled and dealuminized-Y-zeolite (DAY)-filled poly[dimethylsiloxane] (PDMS) membranes at 25, 100 and 150°C. Zeolite filling results in increased solubility coefficients ( S) for polar solvents like ethanol over pure PDMS. No significant increase in S is observed in case of TCA and TCE which act as good solvents for PDMS. However, at higher temperatures, the sorption is higher in zeolite-filled membranes even for the good solvents. The VOC diffusivity decreases with increasing degree of zeolite filling because of higher characteristic diffusion time in zeolites (for ethanol) and increasing tortuosity of the diffusion path (for TCA). Due to the presence of carbon=carbon double bond, TCE exhibits marginal diffusivity drop in zeolite-filled membranes. The specific zeolite-polymer interactions, that is, tendency of zeolite pore blocking by polymer chains or the formation of voids on zeolite-polymer interface are influenced by the zeolite pore size and type of VOC permeating through the composite membrane. The variation in experimentally observed ethanol permeability due to zeolite filling could be qualitatively estimated from the sorption-diffusion data.

The production of carbon monoxide by the homogeneous NO x -induced photooxidation of volatile organic compounds in the troposphere

The reaction mechanisms of products, along with their rates of reaction with hydroxyl radicals and their rates of photolysis, have been used to obtain carbon monoxide, CO, yields from the products of the homogenous atmospheric photooxidation from emissions of hydrocarbons and other volatile organic compounds, VOCs. Seasonally averaged CO yields are estimated for a number of types of VOCs. The annual production of CO is estimated for the contiguous United States from combustion sources of CO and from the atmospheric photooxidation of anthropogenic and biogenic emissions of volatile organic compounds. Limitations on estimates of CO yields and of CO production from various heterogeneous processes are discussed.