• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2012

This study was performed mainly to examine whether a city with a metal industrial presence presents different characteristics in ambient volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations compared to residential (RES) and commercial/residential combined (CRC) areas of another city by using long-term monitoring data (from January 2006 to February 2009). For most target VOCs, ambient concentrations in the metal-industrialized city were lower than for the RES and CRC areas. Aromatic compounds were the predominant VOC groups for the metal industry city as well as for other land uses. The ambient concentrations of aromatic VOCs were higher in the winter and spring seasons than in the summer and fall seasons, whereas those of chlorinated VOCs did not show any distinctive variations. In addition, higher concentrations were observed during daytime hours. The correlations between the ambient target compounds were statistically significant, except for the correlation between benzene and ozone.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.491-502
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• 2003

In the present work, the distribution characteristics of ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were investigated at high temporal resolution from a monitoring station located in a mid-eastern area of Seoul. A total number of 587 samples were collected during December 2002 to January 2003. The measurements of VOC were conducted by a combination of on-line air sampling and thermal desorption unit (TDU) coupled with capillary GC/FID analysis. A total of five aromatic compounds (BTEX: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m, p-xylene, and o-xylene) were measured routinely at hourly intervals during the whole study period. The mean concentrations of BTEX measured in our study period were found in the order: toluene (8.99 $\pm$5.38 ppb) > benzene (0.92$\pm$0.52 ppb) > m, p-xylene (0.51$\pm$0.34 ppb) > 0- xylene (0.48$\pm$0.35 ppb) > ethyl benzene (0.43$\pm$ 0.32 ppb). The BTEX concentrations were generally higher during the daytime than the nighttime, exhibiting certain patterns on a weekly basis. Results of our analysis indicate that the unusually high concentrations of toluene, while showing good correlations with other VOCs, can be a good indicator of air pollution in the study area.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2003.05b
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• pp.217-218
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• 2003

오늘날 대기환경에 존재하는 여러 오염물질 중에서 오존의 생성과 밀접한 관련이 있는 질소산화물과 휘발성유기화합물 (volatile organic compound, VOC)의 대기 환경학적 역할의 중요성이 점차 부각되고 있다 (Liu et al., 2000. VOC는 비록 대기 중에 극미량 농도로 존재하지만, 이들 성분이 대기환경의 변화에 미치는 잠재적 영향력은 가늠하기 어려울 정도로 막대하다. 지금까지 도심환경에 대한 VOC 성분의 분포특성을 설명하기 위해, 주요 인위적 기원의 VOC 성분들의 주구성인자로 간주할 수 있는 benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylene (일반적으로 이들을 총칭하여 BTEX라 한다)을 위시한 방향족 화합물의 핵심성분들에 대한 환경거동 및 단주기적 분포특성에 대한 관측이 많은 연구자들에 의해 수행되었다(eg., Keymeulen et al., 2001). (중략)

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2011

During automotive painting, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with the paint solvents are emitted to the atmosphere. Most VOC emissions come from spraying operations via the use of solvent-based paints, as the spraybooth air picks up gaseous solvent compounds and overspray paint materials. The VOCs consist of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, ketones, esters, alcohols, and glycolethers. Most VOCs (some hydrophilic VOCs are captured and retained in the water.) are captured by an adsorption system and thermally oxidized. In this paper, the processes involved in automotive painting and in VOC control are reviewed. The topics include: painting operations (briefly), the nature of VOCs, VOC-control processes (adsorption, absorption, biological removal, and thermal oxidation) and energy recovery from VOCs using a fuel reformer and a fuel cell, and the beneficial use of paint sludge.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2006

In this study, we attempted to evaluate the sorptive loss of VOC upon their contact with different material surfaces including clothing pieces. For the purpose of this study, we developed a method to evaluate such loss by employing a filter holder pack in the thermal desorption line of the GC/FID system. The calibration curves of different aromatic VOCs including benzene, toluene, and xylene were made by loading them at different quantities through the analytical line. A series of experiments were conducted repetitively to draw calibration data sets for all three materials covering glass fiber, cotton, and nylon. The results were then compared in terms of both material types and of VOC types. The extent of sorptive loss increased in a highly systematic manner across different materials such as glass fiber, cotton, and nylon. The patterns of sorptive loss also increased gradually across VOC type such toward in the direction of increasing molecular weights: benzene, toluene, and xylene. According to this experimental study, it is concluded that sorptive behavior of pollutint compounds like VOC can be controlled by the combined effects of both chemical properties and material characteristics.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.22-30
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• 2006

The volatile organic compound (VOC) Analyzer is a portable device to measure the four main aromatic hydrocarbon gases: toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and styrene. With the VOC Analyzer, a semiconductor gas sensor eliminates the need for the carrier gas which is required for conventional gas chromatographs. In addition, since the semiconductor gas sensor is supersensitive to gas components, it is not necessary to use a conventional gas concentrator or other complicated equipment. Compared with other measurement methods, the VOC analyzer is useful for measuring toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and styrene in wood-based panel because of its ease in obtaining field results and repeating the test. The VOC Analyzer primarily measures four VOC in the air. In this study, we designed a test method of VOC measurement for particle board. A specimen was sealed in 3L polyester bag, after 96hours we could measure maximum VOC emission level that is a stabilized VOC Value. For easy, fast and economic testing of TVOC emission from wood-based panel, we developed the test method with the VOC Analyzer. The VOC Analyzer is expected to gain widespread use in the manufacturing field where a quick and easy test for VOC emission from wood-based panel is required. Furthermore, the VOC Analyzer promises to become an easier, faster and more economic technique than the currently used standard methods.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.410-415
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• 2004

In order to learn the emission characteristics of hazardous pollutants associated with environmental tobacco smoking (ETS), we measured the concentrations of major aromatic VOC and carbonyl compounds released from ETS. By acquiring the different smoke types of ETS, we were able to determine that the concentrations of those species range from ppb (normal exhaled air of smoker prior to smoking) to ppm levels (direct release of ETS without filter). Using these measurement data, we also evaluated the body-retaining rate of these compounds as the result of ETS. The results of our analysis indicated that predominant portion of them (e.g., > 99%) are retained as the result of cigarette smoking. To learn more about the potential impact of ETS, more extensive study may be required to assess the gross picture of pollutant deposition inside respiratory intake and their health-effects.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2013

The present study was designed to examine the concentrations, emission rates, and source characteristics of a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in 30 newly-constructed apartment buildings by measuring indoor and outdoor VOC concentrations over a 2-year period. For comparison, seven villa-type houses were also surveyed for indoor and outdoor VOC concentrations over a 3-month period. Indoor and outdoor air samples were collected on Tenax-TA adsorbent and analyzed using a gas chromatograph (GC)/mass spectrometer system or a GC/flame ionization detector system coupled to a thermal desorption system. The long-term change in indoor VOC concentrations depended on the type of VOCs. Generally, aromatic (except for naphthalene), aliphatic, and terpene compounds exhibited a gradual deceasing trend over the 2-year follow-up period. However, the indoor concentrations of the six halogenated VOCs did not significantly vary with time changes. Similar to these halogenated VOCs, the indoor naphthalene concentrations did not vary significantly with time changes over the 2-year period. Unlike the halogenated VOCs, the indoor naphthalene concentrations were much higher than the outdoor concentrations. The indoor concentrations of aliphatic and aromatic compounds were higher for the villa-type houses when compared to those of apartment buildings. In addition, four source groups (floor coverings and interior painting, household products, wood paneling and furniture, moth repellents) and three source groups (floor coverings and interior painting, household products, and moth repellents) were considered as potential VOC sources inside apartment buildings for the first- and second-year post-occupancy stages, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.107-118
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• 2005

In this study, the concentrations of major odorous compounds including reduced sulfur compounds (OMS, CS$_2$, and DMDS) and aromatic VOC (benzene, toluene, xylene, etc.) were measured continuously using an on-line GC analytical system. Our measurements were made from a residential area of Ansan sity during about two week period of October, 2004. The highest mean concentrations of Sand VOC were found as 56.9 pbb of DMS and 21.7 ppb of toluene, respectively. The results of this study generally show that the pollution levels for both types of chemicals are significant relative to previous measurement results reported from comparable sites, if the results are compared simply in terms of the magnitude of the measured concentration data. Moreover, when the relative importance of different compounds is compared in terms of the odor strength, it indicated that the contribution of reduced S compounds may be much more important than that of VOC in the study area.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.65-72
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• 2007

The VOC (volatile organic compound) analyzer is devised to measure the four main aromatic hydrocarbon gases: toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and styfene. It is not affected by ambient temperature and humidity. In addition, standby and measuring time of VOC Analyzer is a short as below 30 min and 8 min, respectively. Since the semiconductor gas sensor is supersensitive to gas components, it is not necessary to use a conventional gas concentrator or other complicated equipment. In this study, VOC emission behavior from 4 types paints (lacquer, urethane vanish, water-base paint, enamel paint) for wood-based panel was investigated using VOC Analyzer. After a specimen was spreaded on aluminum foil ($6.32{\times}6.32cm$) in $3{\ell}$ polyester bag, after 24 hours we could measure maximum VOC emission level that is a stabilized VOC value. Xylene of VOCs was high emitted from lacquer, urethane vanish and water-based paint, and TVOC (Toluene + Ethylbenzene + Xylene + Styrene) of lacquer was the highest emission concentration than another.