Development of a test method using a VOC analyzer to measure VOC emission from adhesives for building materials

A volatile organic compound (VOC) analyzer is a portable device to measure the four main aromatic hydrocarbon gases: toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and styrene. With the VOC analyzer, a semiconductor gas sensor eliminates the need for the carrier gas which is required for conventional gas chromatography. In addition, since the semiconductor gas sensor is supersensitive to gas components, it is not necessary to use a conventional gas concentrator or other complicated equipment. Compared with other measurement methods, the VOC analyzer is useful for measuring toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene and styrene in new buildings because of its ease in obtaining field results and repeating the test. For easy, fast and economic testing of total (TVOC) emission from adhesives used for building materials, we developed a test method using the VOC analyzer and compared its measurement of VOC emissions from building materials such as adhesives, paints and wood-based panels with that of the 20-1 chamber method, which is the standardized test method in Korea. There was a good correlation between the TVOC emission concentrations determined by the VOC analyzer and the TVOC emission factor (EF) by the 20-1 chamber. Based on this good correlation, the VOC analyzer is expected to gain widespread use in the manufacturing field application where a quick and easy test for VOC emission from adhesives for building materials is required. Furthermore, the VOC analyzer offers the potential to become an easier, faster and more economical technique than the currently used standard methods.