MODELING OF ALKANE EMISSIONS FROM A WOOD STAIN

Full-scale residential house tests were conducted to evaluate the effects of organic emissions from a wood finishing product - wood stain - on indoor air quality (IAQ). The test house concentrations of three alkane species, nonane, decane, and undecane, were measured as a function of time after the application of the wood stain. It was found that the test house concentrations can be simulated by an integrated IAQ model which takes into consideration source, sink and ventilation effects. The alkane emissions were controlled by an evaporation-like process. Data analysis indicated that there were significant sink effects in the test house. Different sink strengths were estimated by the model for the three alkane species. An inverse relationship between the test house sink strength and the alkane volatility was found.