Evaluation of control strategies for volatile organic compounds in indoor air (journal article)

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5480071

Ramanathan, K; Debler, V L

The paper discusses research which evaluates the application of adsorption techniques to the control of indoor organic vapors. The adsorption on activated carbon of three compounds representing three classes of organic species was studied at 30 C in the concentration range zero to 200 ppb using a microbalance. The three were benzene (aromatic), acetaldehyde (oxygenated aliphatic), and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (halogenated aliphatic). Three sorbents (a wood base carbon, a coal base carbon, and a coconut shell base carbon) were examined. Uptakes for all the compounds on all the carbons were low (on the order of 10 to the minus 7th power gmol/g carbon). Simulation of a packed bed of carbon indicated that carbon adsorption may not be practical for continuous removal, but may be applicable to sudden releases (e.g., spills). Potential alternatives to activated carbon adsorption are discussed. Potentially toxic organic vapors are emitted from a wide variety of building materials, consumer products, and human activities. Control of indoor organic vapors generally involves removing the source and/or increasing the ventilation rate. The ubiquitous nature of sources of organic vapors generally makes source removal impractical. Increased ventilation causes increased energy usage with its resultant economic penalties. Therefore, practical removal methods are needed.

• Research Organization: Research Triangle Inst., Durham, NC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5480071
• Report Number(s): PB-91-177055/XAB; CNN: EPA-R812522
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Pub. in Environmental Progress, v7 n4 p 230-235 Nov 88. See also PB88-158951. Sponsored by Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC. Air and Energy Engineering Research Lab
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACETALDEHYDE
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
BENZENE
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
ADSORPTION
BUILDING MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
VENTILATION
AIR POLLUTION
ALDEHYDES
AROMATICS
CONTROL
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
SORPTION
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)