Chemical Activity of VOCs in Indoor Air Compared with Activity Polyurethane Foam Cushions
Department
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Major
Environmental Engineering
Research Advisor
Morrison, Glenn
Advisor's Department
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Funding Source
National Institute for Standards and Technology
Abstract
There is a need for better measurements of long-term indoor exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor environments due to chronic health effects. Existing measurements capture a narrow time period and neglect concentrations that change over time. In this research, I am studying how the polyurethane foam material, found in furniture cushions, can act as a reservoir and long-term sampler for VOCs. I use solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME), which has been shown to be suitable for sampling organic compounds in indoor, to measure the chemical activity of VOCs in the foam (in my home) and the surrounding air. By analyzing the SPME using gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) I find that the chemical activities of toluene, dichlorobenzene and limonene in foam are nearly identical to that in air. I conclude that foam, and perhaps other materials in buildings, are suitable air pollution samplers.
Biography
Dong is from Canton, China. Junior student in Environmental Engineering and doing research on indoor air pollution for Dr. Morrison since Nov.2009.
Research Category
Engineering
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Location
Upper Atrium/Hallway
Presentation Date
06 Apr 2011, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Chemical Activity of VOCs in Indoor Air Compared with Activity Polyurethane Foam Cushions
Upper Atrium/Hallway
There is a need for better measurements of long-term indoor exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor environments due to chronic health effects. Existing measurements capture a narrow time period and neglect concentrations that change over time. In this research, I am studying how the polyurethane foam material, found in furniture cushions, can act as a reservoir and long-term sampler for VOCs. I use solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME), which has been shown to be suitable for sampling organic compounds in indoor, to measure the chemical activity of VOCs in the foam (in my home) and the surrounding air. By analyzing the SPME using gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) I find that the chemical activities of toluene, dichlorobenzene and limonene in foam are nearly identical to that in air. I conclude that foam, and perhaps other materials in buildings, are suitable air pollution samplers.
