Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in surface coating materials: Their compositions and potential as an alternative fuel

J Environ Manage. 2016 Mar 1:168:157-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.11.059. Epub 2015 Dec 17.

Abstract

A sampling system was designed to determine the composition ratios of VOCs emitted from 31 surface coating materials (SCMs). Representative architectural, automotive, and marine SCMs in Korea were investigated. Toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene were the predominant VOCs. The VOC levels (wt%) from automotive SCMs were significantly higher than those from architectural and marine paints. It was found that target SCMs comprised mainly VOCs with 6-10 carbon atoms in molecules, which could be adsorbed by activated carbon. The saturated activated carbon which had already adsorbed toluene, ethylbenzene, and m-xylene was combusted. The saturated activated carbon was more combustible than new activated carbon because it comprised inflammable VOCs. Therefore, it could be an alternative fuel when using in a "fuelization system". To use the activated carbon as a fuel, a control technology of VOCs from a coating process was also designed and introduced.

Keywords: Activated carbon; Alternative fuel; Fuelization; Surface coating; VOCs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Benzene Derivatives / chemistry
  • Carbon / chemistry*
  • Conservation of Energy Resources / methods*
  • Paint*
  • Republic of Korea
  • Toluene / chemistry
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / analysis*
  • Xylenes / chemistry

Substances

  • Benzene Derivatives
  • Volatile Organic Compounds
  • Xylenes
  • Toluene
  • Carbon
  • ethylbenzene
  • 3-xylene