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

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2018.11a
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• pp.153-154
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• 2018

As the air pollution progresses, the pollution degree of the indoor air quality is increased, and when the pollution degree of the indoor air quality is increased, it causes respiratory diseases and skin diseases. In addition, volatile organic compounds are released from the materials used for architectural interior decoration, and volatile organic compounds are the main cause of polluting indoor air quality. In order to improve indoor air quality, we tried to secure indoor air quality pollution by using photocatalyst which has the function of decomposing harmful substances. photocatalyst is a material that promotes chemical reaction by absorbing light. The photocatalyst used in the experiment was TiO₂, In this study, an adsorption type hardener for reducing volatile organic compounds was prepared by photocatalytic reaction. the formaldehyde and CO₂ concentrations of the cured products were analyzed according to the TiO₂ content.

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

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2008

A new-type apparatus decomposing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using a combination system of an electrical exothermic SiC honeycomb and a catalytic filter was developed. This linear combination system is very useful to the catalytic decomposition of VOCs, because the gas involving VOCs is well heated in the SiC honeycomb and then flows into the catalytic filter. In the proposed apparatus, the outlet gas temperatures of SiC honeycomb maintained at ca. $300^{\circ}C$ after 5 min from the starting of applying electric current, and sufficient for the catalytic degradation of VOC components, i.e. toluene, isopropanol, methyl ethyl ketone and ethyl acetate. The average decomposition rate of total VOCs exhausted from a printing factory was 85% using pt catalyst at SV=19,000 in this system.

• Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.716-721
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• 2018

Epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to tobacco smoke causing irritation and inflammation in the airways tends to reduce serum periostin concentrations in adults. We now investigate prospective cross-sectional study on 135 Korean students aged 7 years in the first grade who were participating in the Seongnam Atopy Project for Children's Happiness 2016 ($SAP_{2016}$) cohort. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show significant inverse correlations between serum periostin concentration and exposure to xylene and formaldehyde in children. Our findings suggested the need for caution in using the serum periostin level as a marker for allergic diseases, since exposure to volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde may confound the interpretation of these results.

• 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.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.397-405
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• 2018

As regulations governing the control of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have become increasingly stringent in China, regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) have been more frequently applied in medium- and high-concentration VOCs treatments. However, due to the lack of existing RTO-related research, experience remains a dominant factor for industrial application. This paper thus aimed to establish a model for industrial RTOs, using a transient simulation method and thermal equilibrium model to simulate the internal velocities and temperature distributions of an RTO across multiple cycles. A comparison showed an error of less than 5% between most correlating simulated and experimental measurement points, verifying that the simulation method was accurate. After verification, the velocity and temperature fields inside the RTO were simulated to study the uniformity of temperature and velocity within the packed beds: both fields displayed high uniformity after gas flowed through the honeycomb regenerator. The effects of air volume, VOCs concentrations, and valve switching times on the oxidation chamber temperature, RTO outlet temperature, and thermal efficiency (as well as their averages) were studied. The VOCs removal rate in this study was constantly above 98%, and the average thermal efficiency reached 90%.

• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2021

The application of antagonistic fungi for plant protection has attracted considerable interest because they may potentially replace the use of chemical pesticides. Antipathogenic activities confirmed in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from microorganisms have potential to serve as biocontrol agents against pre- and post-harvest diseases. In the present study, we investigated Galactomyces fungi isolated from rotten leaves and the rhizosphere of cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme). VOCs produced by Galactomyces fungi negatively affected the growth of phytopathogenic fungi and the survival of nematodes. Mycelial growths of all nine examined phytopathogenic fungi were inhibited on agar plate, although the inhibition was more intense in Athelia rolfsii JYC2163 and Cladosporium cladosporioides JYC2144 and relatively moderate in Fusarium sp. JYC2145. VOCs also efficiently suppressed the spore germination and mycelial growth of A. rolfsii JYC2163 on tomatoes. The soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans exhibited higher mortality in 24 h in the presence of VOCs. These results suggest the broad-spectrum activity of Galactomyces fungi against various plant pathogens and the potential to use VOCs from Galactomyces as biocontrol agents.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.901-910
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• 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the amount (i.e., retention volume) and chemical composition of Natural volatile organic compounds (NVOCs) across different sites in a temperate forest. The three forest sites that were considered include riparian zones (site 1), streams (site 2), and densely-canopied areas (site 3). From May to October 2021, a mini pump was used to measure the collected NVOCs. These measurements were conducted once a month, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am; these times encompass peak visitation times. In the tree layers of the site 1 and 2, Quercus acuta was dominant, whereas Camellia japonica dominated their subtree layers. On the other hand, the tree layer of site 3 was dominated by Castanopsis sieboldii, whereas Camellia japonica dominated its subtree layer. The retention volume and chemical composition of NVOCs was as follows: benzaldehyde (107.528ppm), α-pinene (37.868ppm), linalool (16.258ppm), eucalyptol (14.818ppm), and sabinene hydrate (14.679ppm). In particular, the retention volume of benzaldehyde decreased as temperature increased. In contrast, the retention volume of α-pinene increased as the temperature increased. The differences in forest topography across the studies sites were in the following order: riparian area> forest area> stream area.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.118-123
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• 2014

It was confirmed that malodor connected with an air-conditioner in an automobile is caused by microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) produced by microorganisms getting into an air-conditioner when it is operating. Chemicals such as hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl sulfide, nbutyric acid, n-valeric acid, iso-valeric acid, n-octanol and toluene were detected above the odor threshold inside the automobile. The characteristics of a funky odor in the air blown into the automobile were due to detected sulfur compounds (hydrogen sulfide and dimethyl sulfide). Dimethyl sulfide was produced by microorganisms such as Aspergillus versicolor, Methylobacterium aquaticum, Herbaspirillum sp. and Acidovorax sp. In addition, the characteristics of a sour odor in the air blown into the automobile were due to detected organic acids (n-butyric acid, n-valeric acid and iso-valeric acid). N-valeric acid and iso-valeric acid were generated from Aspergillus versicolor, while iso-valeric acid was produced by Methylobacterium aquaticum. In addition, the odor intensity of the air blown into the automobile was affected by the concentration of detected sulfur compounds and organic acids. On the other hand, it is estimated that chemicals such as hydrogen sulfide, n-octanol and n-butyric acid detected in the air blown into the automobile were produced by non-identified species of microorganisms.