Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Diffusion coefficients (D) and partition coefficients (K) of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from 20 dry building materials were obtained by fitting the predictions using a simplified diffusion model with small-scale chamber data. The materials analysed included 6 carpets, 3 particle boards, 3 plywood boards, 3 gypsum boards, 2 orient stranded boards, 2 acoustic ceiling tiles and 1 under pad. The types of VOCs studied included alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and benzene group compounds, with carbon number ranging from 1 to 15. The regression results include the optimal values and a sensitivity range of D and K. For the 4 alkanes emitted from 6 different carpets, a correlation trend was observed between the D, K and VOC properties (molecular weight and vapour pressure). However, the emission parameters in general are suggested to be related to both the molecular structure of compounds and material properties.

Keywords

Volatile organic compounds Diffusion coefficient Partition coefficient Modelling

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Guo Z : Review of indoor emission source models. Part 1 . Overview. Environ Pollution 2002;120(3): 533-549 .

Little JC , Hodgson AT , Gadgil AJ : Modeling emissions of volatile organic compounds from new carpets . Atmos Environ 1994;28(2): 227-234 .

Huang H , Haghighat F : Modelling of volatile organic compounds emission from dry building materials . Building and Environ 2002;37: 1349-1360 .

Xu Y , Zhang YP : An improved mass transfer based model for analyzing VOC emissions from building materials . Atmos Environ 2003;37(18): 2497-2505 .

Yang X , Chen Q , Zhang JS , Magee R , Zeng J , Shaw CY : Numerical simulation of VOC emissions from dry materials . Building and Environ 2001;36(10): 1099-1107 .

Kirchner S , Badey J , Knudsen H : Evaluation of VOCs sorption/diffusion capacities of indoor surface materials: proposal of new test procedures . Indoor Air ’99 1999;1: 430-435 .

Cox S , Zhao D , Little JC : Measuring partition and diffusion coefficients for volatile organic compounds in vinyl flooring . Atmos Environ 2001;35: 3823-3830 .

Bodalal A , Plett E , Zhang J , Shaw C : Correlations between the internal diffusion and equilibrium partition coefficients of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in building materials and the VOC properties . ASHRAE Transaction 2001;107: 789-800 .

Meininghaus R , Uhde E : Diffusion studies of VOC mixtures in a building material . Indoor Air 2002;12: 215-222 .

10.

Zhao DY , Cox SS , Little JC : Source/sink characterization of diffusion-controlled building materials . Indoor Air ’99 1999;1: 408-413 .

11.

Hanssan P , Stymne H : VOC diffusion and absorption properties of indoor materials - consequences for indoor air quality . Proc Healthy Buildings 2000 2000;4: 151-156 .

12.

Haghighat F , Lee CS , Ghaly WS : Measurement of diffusion coefficients of VOCs for building materials: review and development of a calculation procedure . Indoor Air 2002 2002;12: 81-91 .

13.

Axley J : New Mass Transport Elements and Components for the NIST IAQ Model. Technical Report for Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Report No. NIST GCR 95-676, 1995.

14.

Tiffonet AL , Blondeau P , Allard F , Haghighat F : Sorption isotherms of acetone on various building materials . Indoor Built Environ 2002;11: 95-104 .

15.

Saez PB , Rittmann BE : Model parameter estimation using least squares . Water Res 1992;26: 789-796 .

16.

Rao SS : Engineering Optimization, Theory and Practice (3rd edn). New York, John Wiley & Sons , 1996.

17.

He G , Yang X : Effects of measurement errors on regression results of the emission parameters of building materials . Indoor Air 2002 2002;3: 220-225 .

18.

Zhu J , Magee R , Lusztyk E , Zhang JS , Shaw CY : Material Emission Data for Typical Building Materials: Small Environmental Chamber Tests. NRC Report 4.1. Canada: National Research Council , 1999.

19.

Guo Z : Review of indoor emission source models. Part 2. Parameter estimation . Environ Pollution 2002;120(3): 551-564 .

20.

Yaws CL : Handbook of Vapor Pressure. Vol 3. Houston, TX, Gulf Publishing , 1994.

21.

Blondeau P , Tiffonet. AL , Damian A , Amiri O , Molina JL : Assessment of contaminant diffusivities in building materials from porosimetry tests . Indoor Air 2003 2003;13: 302-310 .

Material Emission Parameters Obtained Through Regression

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References