• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.488-496
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• 2002

SPME techniques have proven to be very useful tools in the analysis of wide VOCs in the air. In this study, we estimated VOCs in ambient and workplace air using a Tedlar ba /SPME/GC/MS system. The calibration curve was set to be linear over the range of 1-30 ppbv. The detection limits ranged from 10 pptv to 0.93 ppbv for all VOCs. Reproducibility of TO-14 target gas mixtures by SPME/GC/MS averaged at 8.8 R.S.D (%). Air toxic VOCs (hazardous air pollutants, HAPs) containing a total of forty halohydrocarbons, aromatics, and haloaro-matic carbons could be analyzed with significant accuracy, detection limit and linearity at low ppbv level. Only reactive VOCs with low molecular weight, such as chloromethane, vinylchloride, ethylchloride and 1,2-dichloro-ethane, yielded relatively poor results using this technique. In ambient air samples, ten VOCs were identified and quantified after external calibration. VOC concentration in ambient and workplace air ranged from 0.04 to 1.85 ppbv. The overall process was successfully applied to identify and quantify VOCs in ambient/workplace air.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.222-228
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• 2013

Objectives: The indoor air quality of newly-built (NC) and remodeled (RC) school classrooms was assessed. The primary aim was to show correlations between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde (HCHO) pollutant levels. Methods: This study investigated the indoor air concentrations of VOCs and HCHO at 26 sites of newly built and 68 sites of remodeled classrooms located in South Gyeongsang Province between 2010 and 2012. VOCs in the indoor air were determined by adsorbent tube (Tenax TA) and automatic thermal desorption coupled with GC-MS analysis. Target analytes were five VOCs: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene. HCHO was collected with a 2,4-DNPH cartridge and analyzed by HPLC. Conclusions: This study estimated that indoor VOCs and HCHO concentrations in the classrooms were mainly affected by interior building materials and classroom equipment. For proper indoor air quality in schools, classroom air should be improved through reduction of hazardous materials by adequate ventilation, selecting environmental friendly materials, etc.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.63-70
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• 2002

We investigated the concentration degree of VOCs for ambient air in the air environment control area of Kyonggi-do in 2001. The VOCs showing higher concentration were in the ascending order of Toluene > n-Butane > 1-Butene > Benzene > n-Hexane. The concentration distribution ratio mentioned above showed almost same pattern in each city. The relative concentration ratio of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylenes which are aromatic VOCs were 1 : 6.3 : 0.6 : 1.6. It was similar to the pattern in 1999 but different from the pattern in 2000. In the aspect of seasons, the highest B.T.E.X concentration was indicated in fall and in the aspect of areas, the higher concentration showed in the ascending order of Buchon > Ansan > Kwangmyong > Shihung > Sungnam. The average concentration of target VOCs for ambient air in the air environment control area of Kyonggi-do showed lower concentration than the metropolis of Seoul but higher concentration than Kwang-ju city and Dae-gu city. The amount of total VOCs was increasing, comparing with it last year and the more increasing tendency is anticipated so that it will need to establish the proper regulative criteria.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.91-100
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• 1999

Treatment conditions of DAF(Dissolved Air Flotation) and removal rates of VOCs(Volatile Organic Compounds) in mixed water of H raw water and VOCs were investigated. The used VOCs were benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene in aromatic compounds and iso propyl mereaptan, n-butyl mereaptan, dimethyl disulfide, and iso butyl mercaptan in odors. The related parameters include water type, treatment method, clay concentration, pH condition, flocculation time, flotation time, per-cent recycle, water temperature, pressure. The removal rates of VOCs were different on treatment process and water condition. Treatment time was longer, removal rates of VOCs was higher. Water temperature was more important than pressure in DAF parameters. Molecular weight was related with removal rate in several kinds of VOCs were decraesed by competition of each component in II raw water. When algac blooming D water was treated by DAF, TCOD(Total chemical Oxygen Demand) and chorophyll a was removed over 96%.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.19 no.E4
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• pp.157-168
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• 2003

This study evaluated the technical feasibility of the application of titanium oxide (TiO$_2$) photocatalysis for the removal of VOCs in low ppb concentrations commonly associated with non -occupational indoor air quality issues. A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate four parameters (relative humidity (RH), hydraulic diameter (HD), photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) reactor material (RM), and inlet port size (IPS) of PCO reactor) for the PCO destruction efficiencies of the selected target VOCs. None of the target VOCs presented significant dependency on the RH, which is inconsistent with a few previous studies. However, it is noted that the three parameters (HD, RM and IPS) should be considered for better VOCs removal efficiencies for the application of TiO$_2$ photocatalytic technology for cleansing non -occupational indoor air. The PCO destruction of VOCs at concentrations associated with non-occupational indoor air quality issues can be up to nearly 100％. The amount of CO generated during PCO would be negligible in comparison to the indoor CO levels. These results can make the PCO reactor an important tool in the effort to improve non-occupational indoor air quality.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.468-476
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• 2006

Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) have high toxicity and bioaccurnulation potentials into human body even inbsmall amount (levels of ng/$m^3$). As the levels of HAPs might be controversial, it has been become essential to establish the analysis method for correct results. In this study, various analysis methods of VOCs and Aldehydes were compared in order to select the proper methods in our condition. Sampling and analysis method of VOCs were followed to EPA TO-14a and TO-17. VOCs were collected in absorption tube and separated by thermal desorption unit then analyzed by GC/MSD. Aldehydes were sampled in DNPH-cartridge and extracted into solution then analyzed by HPLC as the same condition of EPA TO-13a. This study also shows the results of QA/QC system of selected methods. Some experiments could be improving the data assurance blank test, calibration check, repetition precision check, the determination of detection limit and reproducibility of the retention time. Precisions of VOCs and aldehydes were ranged in 2$\sim$9% and 1$\sim$4% RSD, respectively. Recovery rate of VOCs showed variable ranges from 60 to 133.5%. MDL of VOCs and aldehydes were 0.044$\sim$0.284 ppb and 0.14$\sim$1.02 ng, respectively.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2008

With architectural technology, a building has been a far dense and close. So the thermal environment of the building has become pleasant, but the quality of indoor air has been degraded. Using synthetic products for construction materials and furniture indoors escalates the concentration of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) at indoor air, threatening the health of the residents. To reduce the concentration of volatile organic compounds at indoor air, many methods are designed, and of late, concern has been increased about the effect of air purification using air purifying plants. Field measurements were performed using Aglaonema brevispathum, Pachira aquatica and Ficus benjamiana, which were verified as air-purifying plants by NASA. The effect of reducing the concentration of air contaminants by plant studied in a full scale mock-up model. The variations of concentration of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Formaldehyde were monitored. In most cases, the effect was excellent in Toluene and formaldehyde in summer.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.4 s.91
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• pp.292-303
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• 2006

The Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs) are emitted from various sources and have lots of different form. Recently human are spending the many times at indoor area and indoor air pollution is issued the important social problem. The emission sources of indoor air pollutants are very various, also indoor building materials are composed of very complex chemical compounds, these indoor building materials discharge very much VOCs and other hazardous compounds. In this study, we performed the small chamber test to investigate the VOCs emission concentration and characteristics involving five kinds of the indoor building materials(furniture material, wooden floor, wall paper, paint and tile) under different conditions of four temperature and relative humidity as account of the air flow rate(AFR), air exchange rate(AER), loading factor and air velocity respectively. As the result, It was showed that building materials are emitted the highest VOCs concentration at the beginning of experiment and furniture material is emitted the highest VOCs concentration. Most of the materials were affected by temperature, but paint and tile material were affected by humidity.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2003

This study has been conducted to identify and quantify the emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from a new carpet. The carpet sample consists of polypropylene cushion and latex backing. The VOCs have been sampled on sorbent tubes and analyzed by thermal desorption unit and GC/MSD. For over 240 hours, concentration of VOCs has been measured in a small chamber made of stainless steel. With the measured data, emission factor and mass balance have been considered. The experiments have been conducted in accordance with ASTM D5116-97. The carpet has emitted a variety of VOCs, but in this study, 7 VOCs compounds have been considered： chlorobenzene, ethylbenzene, styrene, isopropylbenzene, bromobenzene, 2-chlorotoluene, and 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene. The results show that the concentrations of VOCs and the emission factors have exponentially decayed from relatively high level to low level with time. The gradients of the concentration of VOCs and emission factors are different for various components. It is found that styrene, 2-chlorotoluene are emitted more than others with higher concentrations.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.202-211
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• 2021

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) have been regulated by the Air Pollution Control Act (1978) and their atmospheric concentrations have been monitored in 39 monitor sites in Korea. However, measurement standards of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in HAPs at ambient levels have not been established in Korea. Primary reference gas mixtures (measurement standards) at ambient levels are required for accurately monitoring atmospheric VOCs in HAPs and managing their emissions. In this study, primary reference gas mixtures (PRMs) at 5 nmol/mol were developed in order to establish primary national standards of VOCs in HAPs at ambient levels. Primary reference gas mixtures (PRMs) were prepared in pressurized aluminum cylinders with special internal surface treatment using gravimetric method. Analytical methods using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) coupled with a cryogenic preconcentrator were also developed to verify the consistency of gravimetrically prepared HAP VOCs PRMs. Three different columns installed in the GC-FID were evaluated and compared for the retention times and separation of eighteen target components in a chromatogram. Results show that the HAP VOCs PRMs at 5 nmol/mol were consistent within a relative expanded uncertainty (k=2) of less than 3 % except acrylonitrile (less than 6 %) and the 18 VOCs were stable for 1 year within their associated uncertainties.