• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.244-258
• /
• 2018

We performed this study to investigate the spatial, seasonal, and daily variations of the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Pohang, where large steel industrial complexes are located. Ambient air sampling was undertaken at 4 sites during 4 seasons. Each sample was taken for 4 hours continuously for 8 consecutive days per season at each site. Three sites were located within the Pohang city, but one as a control site in Gyeongju. A total of 72 individual VOCs were determined by thermal desorption coupled with GC/MS, including aliphatics, aromatics, carbonyls and halides. The most abundant VOC was toluene, being followed by ethylbenzene and xylenes. Benzene concentrations(c.a. 0.7 ppb) were found to be much lower than the national ambient standard of 1.5 ppb. Overall, the VOCs levels in Pohang appeared to be lower than other national industrial complexes in Korea such as Shiwha-Banwol, Yeosu-Gwangyang, Gumi, and Ulsan. This implies that steel industry may not give significant impacts on the atmospheric levels of VOCs as much as petrochemical, electronic, and/or textile industries, where large amounts of organic solvents are used.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.5 s.81
• /
• pp.487-492
• /
• 2004

Building materials are composed of very complex chemical compounds, and these indoor building materials discharge very much Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs). We performed the environmental chamber test to investigate the Total VOCs(TVOCs) emission characteristics and emission factors about chemical and natural coating materials. As the result, we concluded that TVOCs emission are high at initial time and decreased in course of time. Natural paint was low emission level for TVOCs than chemical paint by small chamber test. The TVOCs emission factor-time profile showed a good fit with the results from the measured and predicted value.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.42-54
• /
• 2010

Automobile emissions have caused a major hydrocarbon pollution problem in the ambient air of many cities around the world. This study was conducted to measure the pollution status of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in some urban residential areas in Seoul, Korea. A total of 20 VOCs (11 aromatic and 9 chlorinated species) were identified at 4 urban residential sites in Seoul, Korea from February 2009 to July 2009. Comparison of total VOC (TVOC) concentration data indicated the dominance of the aromatic species with the maximum (72.2 ppbC) at Jong Ro (JR) and the minimum at Yang Jae (33.4 ppbC). The peak concentration of TVOC occurred during spring at all sites with an exception at Gang Seo (GS), where it was recorded during winter. The distribution of individual VOCs at the study sites was characterized by high toluene concentration. A strong correlation of benzene was also observed with other VOCs and criteria pollutants at all sites (except YJ). The overall results of this study suggest that vehicular emissions have greatly contributed to the increase in VOC pollution at all the study sites.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.7 no.5
• /
• pp.615-622
• /
• 1998

The volatile organic compounds(VOCs) emitted from raw garlic and Kimchee were analyzed with thermal desorption or purge ＆ trap/gas chromatography/mass selective detection method. Very offensive compounds such as methyl allyl sulfide, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, diallyl sulfide, methyl allyl disulfide, diallyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide were detected, and among them, dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide were confirmed to be generated during the precocity of Kimchee or emitted from the stuff of Kimchee other than the garlic. Malodorous compounds emitted from the garlic or Kimchee were detected in the breath of a Korean and the refregirator keeping Kimchee. It was confirmed that the disufides emitted from the garlic or Kimchee were major components of offensive odor in the alveolar air and the refregirator. It was clarfied that heat process is very effective to reduce odorous VOCs in garlic or Kimchee.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.4 s.91
• /
• pp.275-281
• /
• 2006

Indoor air quality is the dominant contributor to total personal exposure because most people spend a majority of their time indoors. Especially exposure to indoor air can potentially pose a greater threat than exposure to ambient air when indoor environments have sources of contaminants. In this study, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde (HCHO) within newly constructed apartment have been determined in 27 houses of apartment in Seoul from December 2004 to March 2005. The measured indoor air pollutants were HCHO, volatile organic compounds including benzene, toluene, styrene, xylene, ethylbenzene and sampled on the standard method of Ministry of Environment in Korea. The indoor levels for benzene, xylene, toluene, ethylbenzene, styrene, and HCHO have significant increase trend after 5 hours closing of windows and doors. Levels of measured air pollutants concentrations between living rooms and bedrooms have not shown significant difference. Spearman correlation coefficient among the measured air pollutants ranged from 0.303 to 0.946, indicating similar source in building materials.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.203-209
• /
• 2014

The adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was carried out using an activated carbon fiber (ACF) filter in an automobile. The adsorption capacities of formaldehyde, toluene, and benzene on an ACF filter were far better than those of a polypropylene (PP) mat filter and combined (PP+activated carbon) mat filter by batch adsorption in a gas bag. In a continuous flow of air containing toluene vapor through an ACF packed bed, the breakpoint time was very long, the length of the unused bed was short, and sharp "S" -type breakthrough curve was plotted soon after breakpoint, showing a narrow mass transfer zone of toluene on the ACF. The adsorption amount of toluene on the ACF filter was proportional to the specific surface area of the ACF; however, the development of mesopores 2-5 nm in size on the ACF was very effective with regard to the adsorption of toluene. The ACF air clarifier filter is strongly recommended to remove VOCs in newly produced automobiles.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.95-106
• /
• 1998

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from Ca to C9 were investigated with nine ambient air samples collected in April 26, August 17, 1996 and January 23, 1997 in a Seoul site. On each sampling day, three 2-hr integrated canister samples were collected in early morning, early afternoon and late afternoon, respectively to study temporal . variation of VOCs. Most of VOC species showed diurnal variation with higher concentrations in the early morning and lower concentrations in the afternoon. The concentrations of light alkanes were high, probably due to the emission from liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and evaporation of gasoline. Especially, the concentration of propane was the highest in the morning samples. The concentrations of propane, ethylene, acetylene, and toluene were prominent in their hydrocarbon groups, respectively. These components were the main source of car exhaust, gasoline evaporization, LPG, or solvent usage.

• KIEAE Journal
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.25-30
• /
• 2008

This study aims at examining the reduction of indoor air contaminants by plants placed in an indoor space. The effect of reducing the concentration of air contaminants by three species of plants was studied in a full-scale mock-up model. Field measurements were performed using Aglaonema brevispathum, Pachira aquatica and Ficus benjamiana which were verified as air-purifying plants by NASA. Their positions and amount were controlled. Two conditions for the amount of plants(10%, 5%) and positions(sun-shine, scatter) were used in two separate rooms whose dimensions are identical. The concentration of Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs) was monitored three hours after the plants were placed and three days after the plants were placed. The variations of concentration of Benzene, Toluene, Etylbenzene, Xylene, Stylene and Formaldehyde, which are all known as the major elements of Volatile Organic Compounds were monitored. The more plants were used, the more a reduction of indoor air contaminants occurred. The effect of reducing the concentration of air contaminants increased when the amount of plants increased.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.15 no.10
• /
• pp.929-933
• /
• 2006

Indoor air quality is the dominant contributor to total personal exposure because most people spend a majority of their time Indoors. Especially when indoor environments have sources of contaminants, exposure to in-door air can potentially pose a greater threat than exposure to ambient air. In this study, estimations of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde omission rate in indoor environments of new apartments were carried out using mass balance model in indoor environment, because indoor air quality can be affected by source generation, outdoor air level, ventilation, decay by reaction, temperature, humidity, mixing condition and so on. Considering the estimated emission rate of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde, it Is suggested that new apartment should be designed and constructed in the aspect of using construction materials to emit low hazardous air pollutants.

• Particle and aerosol research
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.31-44
• /
• 2011

The hourly volatile organic compounds(VOCs) concentrations between 2005 and 2008 at Bulgwang photochemical assessment monitoring station were investigated to establish a method for quality assurance and quality control(QA/QC) procedure. Systematic error, erratic error, and random error, which was manifested by outlier and highly fluctuated data, were checked and removed. About 17.3% of the raw data were excluded according to the proposed QA/QC procedure. After QA/QC, relative standard deviation for representing 15 species concentrations decreased from 94.7-548.0% to 63.4-125.8%, implying the QA/QC procedure is proper. For further evaluation about the adequacy of QA/QC procedure, principal components analysis(PCA) was carried out. When the data after QA/QC procedure was used for PCA, the extracted principal components were different from the result from the raw data and could logically explain the major emission sources(gasoline vapor, vehicle exhaust, and solvent usage). The QA/QC procedure based on the concept of errors is inferred to proper to be applied on VOCs. However, an additional QA/QC step considering the relationship between species in the atmosphere needs to be further considered.