• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.137-146
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• 2012

Poor indoor air quality is now worldwide concern due to its adverse impacts on our health and environment. Moreover, these impacts carry a significant burden to the economy. Various technical approaches (e.g., biological, activated carbon fiber (ACF), photocatlytic oxidation (PCO), etc.) have gained popularity in controlling indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This is because removing indoor VOC sources or increasing ventilation rates is often not feasible or economical. This review provides an overview of the various air purification technologies used widely to improve indoor air quality. Although most of these technologies are very useful to remove indoor VOCs, there is no single fully satisfactory method due to their diversity and presence at the low concentration. To achieve technical innovations and the development of specific testing protocols, one should possess a better knowledge on the mechanisms of substrate uptake at VOC concentrations.

• 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.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2011

In this study, the formation of nanoparticles by a reaction of ozone with the volatile organic compounds(VOCs) emitted from a commercial home cleaner liquid was investigated using a $1-m^3$ reaction chamber($1{\times}1{\times}1m$). The home cleaner liquid was found to contain many VOCs, particularly terpenes. Some of these VOCs are known to readily react with ozone, forming indoor secondary pollutants. The correlation of particle concentration and reacted ozone concentration was examined with injections of three different ozone concentrations; 50, 100 and 200 ppb. The secondary nanoparticles were formed faster, with their numbers and mass concentrations becoming higher on increasing the concentration of ozone injected.

• 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.

• Journal of odor and indoor environment
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.396-403
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• 2018

In this study, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from printing industries were analyzed, and an inorganic adsorbent, ${\gamma}-alumina$, was selected for the effective control of the VOC emissions. Printing processes commonly require inks, thinners, and cleaners, and they were mixed organic solvents containing aromatic compounds, ketones, and alcohols. Therefore, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) were selected as model compounds for this study. The adsorptive properties using ${\gamma}-alumina$ were determined for the model compounds. Both batch isotherm and continuous flow column tests demonstrated that the adsorption capacity of MEK and IPA was 3~4 times higher than that of toluene. The column test performed at an inlet toluene concentration of 100 ppm showed that an 80% breakthrough for toluene was observed after 3 hours, but both MEK and IPA were continuously adsorbed during the same time period. A numerical model simulated that the ${\gamma}-alumina$ could remove toluene at a loading rate of 0.4 mg/min only for a 4-hour period, which might be too short of a duration for real applications. Consequently, lifetime enhancement for ${\gamma}-alumina$ must be implemented, and ozone oxidation and regeneration would be feasible options.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.967-976
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• 2003

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present in essentially all natural and synthetic materials from petrol to flowers. In this study, indoor and outdoor VOCs concentrations of houses, offices and internet-cafes were measured and compared simultaneously with personal exposures of each 50 participants in Asan and Seoul, respectively. Also, factors that influence personal VOCs exposure were statistically analyzed using questionnaires in relation to house characteristics, time activities, and health effects. All VOCs concentrations were measured by OVM passive samplers (3M) and analyzed with GC/MS. Target pollutants among VOCs were Toluene, o-Xylene, m/p-Xylene, Ethylbenzene, MIBK, n-Octane, Styrene, Trichloroethylene, and 1,2-Dichlorobenzene. Indoor and outdoor VOCs concentrations measured in Seoul were significantly higher than those in Asan except Ethylbenzene. Residential indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios for all target compounds ranged from 0.94 to 1.51 and I/O ratios of Asan were a little higher than those of Seoul. Relationship between personal VOCs exposure, and indoor and outdoor VOCs concentrations suggested that time-activity pattern could affect the high exposure to air pollutant. Factors that influence indoor VOCs level and personal exposure with regard to house characteristics in houses were building age, inside smoking and house type. In addition insecticide and cosmetics interestingly affected the VOCs personal exposure. Higher exposure to VOCs might be caused to be exciting increase and memory reduction, considering the relationship between measured VOCs concentrations and questionnaire (p<0.05).

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.205-214
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• 2004

This study focuses on the measurement of airborne Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the Kumi electronic industrial complex during the time periods of August and September, 2002 and January and February, 2003. This study was based on the US-EPA method TO-14 while the VOCs were analyzed with GC/MSD. The toluene level revealed high concentration at all measurement sites. The areal rank of average concentrations of VOCs is as follows: industry1 > industry2 > urban > middle > residential. Concentrations of VOCs in Kumi electronic industrial ones were generally higher than at Yeochon and Ulsan industrial complexes. Dichloromethane and trichloroethylene, which are used as a cleaner in the process of electronic industries, were observed 4 to 8 times higher than those of other areas. Among the aromatic compounds, toluene showed the highest level, while the concentrations of dichloromethane and trichloroethylene were higher than those of other halogen compounds. In Kumi, toluene, trichloroethylene, and dichloromethane were confirmed as the major compounds of VOCs by this research.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.207-217
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• 2002

This study was designed to investigate the characteristics of atmospheric concentrations of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Korea. Target compounds included 1,3-butadiene, aromatics such as BTEX, and a number of carbonyl compounds. In this paper, as the second part of the study, the seasonal and locational concentrations of atmospheric VOCs were evaluated. Sampling was conducted seasonally at seven sampling sites. each of them representing a large urban area (commercial and residential), a small urban area (commercial and residential), an industrial area (a site within the complex and a residential), and a background place in Korea. In general, higher concentrations were found in the petro-chemical industrial site than other sites, while VOCs measured in commercial (heavy -traffic) sites were higher than residential sites. Seasonality of VOCs concentrations were not so much clear as other combustion related pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, indicating that the VOCs are emitted from a variety of sources, not only vehicle exhaust and point sources but fugitive emissions. Except the industrial site, the concentrations of VOCs measured in this study do not reveal any serious pollution status, since the levels did not exceed any existing ambient standards in the U.K. and/or Japan. However, the increasing number of petrol -powered vehicles and the rapid industrialization in Korea may result in the increased levels of VOCs concentrations in many large urban areas in the near future, if there is no appropriate programme implemented for the control of these compounds.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.61-61
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• 1995

Volatile organic compounds(VOCs) are of concern for their potential chronic toxicity, their suspected role in the formation of smog, and their suspected role in destruction of stratospheric ozone. Present study evaluated the exposures to selected VOCs in three microenvironments: 2 chlorinated and 5 aromatic VOCs in the indoor and outdoor air, and 5 aromatic VOCs in the breathing zone air of gas-service station attendants. With permissible Quality Assurance and Quality Control performances VOC concentrations were measured 1) to be higher in indoor air than in outdoor air, 2) to be higher in two Taegu residential areas than in a residential area of Hayang, and 3) to be higher in the nighttime than in the daytime. Among five aromatics, Benzene and Toluene were two most highly measured VOCs in breathing zone air of service station attendants. Based on the sum of VOC concentrations, the VOC exposure during refueling was estimated to be about 10% of indoor and outdoor exposures. For Benzene only, the exposure during refueling was estimated to cause about 52% of indoor and outdoor exposure. The time used to calculate the exposures was 2 minutes for refueling and 24 hours for indoor and outdoor exposures.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.447-459
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• 1995

Volatile organic compounds(VOCs) are of concern for their potential chronic toxicity, their suspected role in the formation of smog, and their suspected role in destruction of stratospheric ozone. Present study evaluated the exposures to selected VOCs in three microenvironments: 2 chlorinated and 5 aromatic VOCs in the indoor and outdoor air, and 5 aromatic VOCs in the breathing zone air of gas-service station attendants. With permissible Quality Assurance and Quality Control performances VOC concentrations were measured 1) to be higher in indoor air than in outdoor air, 2) to be higher in two Taegu residential areas than in a residential area of Hayang, and 3) to be higher in the nighttime than in the daytime. Among five aromatics, Benzene and Toluene were two most highly measured VOCs in breathing zone air of service station attendants. Based on the sum of VOC concentrations, the VOC exposure during refueling was estimated to be about 10% of indoor and outdoor exposures. For Benzene only, the exposure during refueling was estimated to cause about 52% of indoor and outdoor exposure. The time used to calculate the exposures was 2 minutes for refueling and 24 hours for indoor and outdoor exposures.