VOC Content and Emission Tests

VOC Content and Emission Tests

Volatile organic chemical compounds, both indoors and outdoors, are briefly everywhere. Because volatile organic compounds (VOCs, Volatile Organic Compounds) are the main components of many products and materials. In general, these compounds are released outdoors into the air during the production or use of everyday products and materials. Indoors, it is released into the air during the use of products and materials that contain mostly VOCs.

VOC contents are of concern as both indoor air pollutants and outdoor air pollutants. However, the outdoor effect of this concern is different than that of indoor spaces. The main problem indoors is the potential to adversely affect the health of people exposed to volatile organic chemical compounds. VOC content can also create a problem with outdoor health, but under certain conditions they have the ability to generate photochemical fumes. For example, industrial processes and automobile exhaust gases emit emissions of hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxides into the air and pollute the air. However, these pollutants turn into smoke or haze as a result of the photochemical reaction caused by strong sunlight. In this case, the effect of said volatile organic chemical compounds is reduced.

The concept of VOC has been defined in different ways and the amount and composition of VOC contents measured in the air have been evaluated in different ways depending on the measurement methods. In this regard, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as carbon compounds other than carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides or carbonates and ammonium carbonate involved in atmospheric photochemical reactions. In other words, volatile organic compounds are organic chemical compounds which are able to evaporate under normal indoor temperature and pressure conditions.

Recently, volatile organic compounds have been identified and classified according to their boiling points. For example, the European Union uses the boiling point in this regard. A volatile organic compound is any organic compound having an initial boiling point of less than 250, measured at a standard atmospheric pressure. The lower the boiling point, the higher the volatility and the greater the likelihood that the compound will diffuse from a product or surface to the air. Very volatile organic compounds are difficult to measure, completely present in the form of gas. Less volatile compounds in the air are generally present in solid or liquid form containing them or in powder form on surfaces containing furniture and construction materials.

The World Health Organization (WHO) classified indoor pollutants as follows: highly volatile organic compounds (such as propane, butane, methyl chloride), volatile organic compounds (such as formaldehyde, toluene, acetone, ethyl alcohol) and semi-volatile organic compounds (pesticides). fire retardants such as.

The measurement methods available in VOC content and emission tests are selective about what they can measure, and none can measure all of the available VOC contents. The range of measurement methods and analytical instruments used is quite wide. Therefore, when giving VOC measurement results, it should also be explained how they are measured.

VOC content and emission tests performed in accredited laboratories comply with the methods and standards published by domestic and foreign organizations. A few of these standards are as follows:

  • TS EN ISO 11890 Paints and varnishes - Determination of volatile organic matter content (VOC)
  • TS EN ISO 13199 Constant source emissions - Determination of total volatile organic matter (TVOCs) in waste gases from non-combustion processes - Infra-red analyzer equipped with catalytic converter
  • TS ISO 16200 Workplace air quality - Sampling of volatile organic compounds and analysis by solvent desorption / gas chromatography
  • TS EN ISO 16000-5 Indoor air - Part 5: Sampling strategy of volatile organic compounds
  •  TS EN ISO 16000-9 ... Part 9: Determination of volatile organic compound emissions from building materials and furniture - Emission test chamber method
  • TS EN ISO 16000-10 ... Chapter 10: Determination of volatile organic compound emissions from building materials and furniture - Emission test cell method

Our company also provides VOC content and emission testing services within the scope of testing services. Thanks to these services, enterprises are able to produce more efficient, high performance and quality products in a safe, fast and uninterrupted manner.

VOC content and emission testing services are just one of the testing services provided by our organization. In addition, many other testing services are provided.