Composition and correlation of volatile organic compounds and odor emissions from typical indoor building materials based on headspace analysis. (1st August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Ling; Hu, Yibing; Liang, Weihui
• Is Part Of: Building and environment. Volume 221(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08-01
• Subjects: Odor intensity -- Odor acceptability -- Odor activity value -- Principal component analysis -- Multiple linear regression; VOC volatile organic compound -- IAQ indoor air quality -- PAQ perceived air quality -- OI odor intensity -- OAVsum sum of odor activity value -- OAVmax maximum odor activity value -- MBTH 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazide -- PCA principal component analysis -- TVOC total volatile organic compound -- ODT odor detection threshold; Buildings -- Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Building -- Research -- Periodicals; Constructions -- Technique de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 696
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109321
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-1323

Abstract

Abstract: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from indoor building materials are one of the main causes of deterioration in indoor air quality and along with odor emissions, directly affect the physical and mental health of humans. In this study, we used headspace analysis to measure VOCs and odor emissions from 19 types of building materials, including floors, furniture boards, wall coverings, and adhesives. An untrained panel was used to assess the acceptability and intensity of building materials' odor. The total VOC (TVOC) of "dry" (e.g. floors, furniture boards, and wall cloths) and "wet" (e.g. wall paints and adhesives) materials ranged from 278.3 to 869.6 μg/m 3 and 219.0–3060.0 μg/m 3, with median TVOC values of 501.8 μg/m 3 and 252.9 μg/m 3, respectively. The sum of its odor activity value (OAVsum ) ranged from 0.6 to 51.7 and 0.5–17.0, with a median OAVsum of 5.1 and 7.0, respectively. Hexanal was the dominant odor-active VOC in most building materials. Median odor intensity of "dry" and "wet" materials was 3.25 and 3.08, respectively. Substantial differences were presented for TVOC but not for odor intensity. Odor could still be perceived in air mixtures with low TVOC concentration and OAVsum < 1. A combination of multiple linear regression and principal component analysis was used to establish a model for the prediction of odor intensity based on OAV ( R 2 = 0.746). The model shows that the OAV of aldehydes, esters, alkanes, aromatics, and phenols can predict the overall odor intensity, and phenols contribute the most to the odor. Highlights: Building material contaminants were analyzed using sensory and chemical methods. Substantial differences between "dry" and "wet" materials for TVOC but not for odor intensity. Low TVOC concentration and OAVsum <1 could not ensure low odor intensity. A model was established to link the odor activity value with the odor intensity. Phenols have the greatest impact on the odor intensity of building materials.