VOC volatile organic compound detection

What are VOCs?

VOC is the English abbreviation of volatile organic compounds (volatile organic compounds), sometimes also expressed as total volatile organic compounds TVOC.

Its general definition scope is as follows:

The American ASTM D3960-98 standard defines VOC: any organic compound that can participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions.

The definition of the U.S. Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Volatile organic compounds are any carbon compounds that participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions except CO, CO2, H2CO3, metal carbides, metal carbonates and ammonium carbonate .

The World Health Organization defines total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) as the general name for volatile organic compounds with a melting point lower than room temperature and a boiling point between 50 and 260°C.

The international standard ISO 4618/1-1998 and the German DIN 55649-2000 standard on general terms for paints and varnishes define VOC as: in principle, any organic liquid and/or solid that can evaporate spontaneously under normal temperature and pressure. .

The definition of the German DIN 55649-2000 standard when measuring VOC content is any organic compound with a boiling point or initial boiling point lower than or equal to 250°C under normal pressure conditions.

BASF believes that the most convenient and common method is to define which substances are VOCs based on their boiling point, and the most common consensus is that VOC refers to chemical substances with a boiling point equal to or lower than 250°C . Therefore, substances with boiling points exceeding 250°C are not classified as VOCs and are often called plasticizers.

Dangers of VOCs:

Among the more than 900 indoor chemical and biological substances that have been confirmed so far, at least 350 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present (>1ppb), of which more than 20 are carcinogens or mutagens. Because their individual concentrations are low but there are many types, they are collectively called VOCs, and TVOC is used to represent their total amount (i.e., total volatile organic compounds). When several types of VOCs coexist indoors, their combined toxic effects cannot be ignored.

Common TVOC types include alkanes/cycloalkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons, alkenes, alcohols, phenols, aldehydes, ketones, terpenes, etc.

The most common hazards of TVOC to humans are irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, causing stinging and dryness of the eyes, increased blinking frequency, and tearing; dryness and stinging of the nasopharynx, nosebleeds, nasal congestion, and coughing , hoarse voice and change in sense of smell, etc.; throat congestion and inflammation; dry skin, itching, stinging, erythema, etc.

Severe TVOC content can cause neurological disorders and dementia, and can also lead to hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Main sources of VOC:

◆Various coatings and adhesives; ◆Man-made panels; ◆Wood furniture and wood paint; ◆Plastic products; ◆Carpets and other synthetic fabrics; ◆Leather, sponge products, etc.; ◆Printing ink;

◆Other household chemicals; ◆Fuel, tobacco burning, etc. Relevant pollution sources do not just release a single pollutant, but often release multiple pollutants at the same time.

The relationship between TVOC and VOC:

TVOC is one of the three organic pollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds and aldehydes) in the air that has the most serious impact. VOC refers to organic matter whose saturated vapor pressure exceeds . Its boiling point is between 50°C and 250°C. It can exist in the air in the form of evaporation at room temperature. Its toxicity, irritation, carcinogenicity and special Odorable, it will affect the skin and mucous membranes and cause acute damage to the human body.

Main components The main components of VOC are: hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, oxygen hydrocarbons and nitrogen hydrocarbons, which include: benzene series, organic chlorides, Freon series, organic ketones, amines, alcohols, ethers, esters, acids and petroleum Hydrocarbon compounds, etc.

VOC testing services -Jeston Testing Company specializes in providing various VOC testing services and issues VOC testing reports that are widely recognized internationally.

In view of the harmfulness of VOC, governments and purchasers around the world have different requirements for the VOC content in purchased products. Jietong Testing Company provides one-stop VOC testing services and can provide a full set of VOC preferential testing services and individual testing services.

National standard VOC testing services 

On March 4 , 2020 , the State Administration for Market Regulation ( SAMR ) and the Standardization Administration of China ( SAC ) approved the release of a number of mandatory national standards involving VOCs limits for coatings, adhesives, inks and cleaning agents . Click on the standards below to learn more about them Details:

GB 30981-2020  VOC detection of industrial protective coatings

GB 33372-2020  Adhesive  VOC testing

GB 38507-2020  Ink VOC detection

GB 38508-2020  Cleaning agent VOC detection

Jeseon Detection’s regular VOC testing service items: