휘발성 유기화합물(VOCs, Volatile Organic Compounds)은 지방족(파라핀계와 올레핀계 탄화수소 등)과 방향족 화합물(BTEX 등), 그리고 암모니아, 알코올, 알데히드 케톤, 에테르 등의 질소, 산소원소를 포함한 탄화수소의 총칭으로 대기 중에 배출되어 화학반응에 의해 오존을 생성할 수 있는 화합물을 말한다. 이러한 VOC 분해 메커니즘은 대기 온도, 태양 강도, 대기 혼합, 대기중의 VOC 농도 및 다른 오존 전구물질의 반응을 포함한 다양한 인자들로 인하여 매우 복잡하다. VOC가 대기 중으로 방출되면, 대기 중에서 질소산화물(NOx) 존재 하에서 오존, OH 라디칼 등 과 같은 극성 및 독성이 매우 강한 광화학 옥시던트를 발생시킨다. 본 연구는 VOC 및 NH₃를 동시에 처리하는 Mn촉매하에서 오존 및 코로나 방전에 의한 제거효과를 확인하기 위한 연구로, VOC의 경우 오존농도가 30 ppm 이하의 범위에서는 반응온도가 높을수록 그 제거효율이 다소 증가함을 보이고 있었지만, 그 이상의 농도에서는 온도에 영향을 받지 않았으며, NH₃ 는 반응온도에 상관없이 99% 이상의 균일한 제거성능을 나타내었다. VOC의 유입농도에 따른 오존의 분해 특성은 유입농도가 증가함에 따라 그 제거효율이 급격히 감소함을 보이고 있는데 이는 오존분자와 VOC분자간의 반응비율에 의한 영향으로 추정된다. 암모니아 분해효율은 촉매가 존재하지 않는 경우와 비교하여 그 성능이 일정하게 유지되는데, 이는 오존분자가 암모니아와 반응에서 한 분자당 다수의 암모니아 분자와 반응하는 것으로 추정되는데 오존이 촉매상에서 분해되면서 만들어지는 라디칼이 주변의 산소와 연쇄적으로 반응하여 암모니아와 반응이 가능한 라디칼을 생성하는 것으로 판단된다. 또한 코로나 방전 효과에 대한 실험도 실시되었는데, 촉매가 존재하지 않음에도 불구하고 코로나에 의한 VOC 제거효율은 유입농도가 1,000 ppm의 영역에서도 가능함을 보여주고 있었으며 이는 열분해 처리효과보다도 더 효과적이다. 유입 암모니아 가스농도가 1,000 ppm 이상의 고농도에서도 고로나방전에 의해 효과적으로 제거됨을 확인할 수 있었다.

Desorption characteristics of VOCs were investigated for the effective recovery of gasoline vapor. The adsorption capacity and desorption capacity were excellent at relatively low temperatures. The differences in the desorption capacity were not large in the condition; desorption temperature 25℃, desorption pressure 760 mmHg, inlet air flow rate 0.5 L/min, but were relatively great in the condition; desorption temperature 0℃, desorption pressure 60 mmHg, inlet air flow rate 1.0 L/min. The desorption ability of pentane was increased to about 81.4%, and the desorption ability of hexane was increased to about 102%, also the desorption ability of toluene was increased to about 156.7% by changes of temperature, pressure, inlet air flow rate in the experimental conditions. The optimum desorption condition for the effective recovery of VOCs was in the conditions; desorption temperature 0℃, desorption pressure 60 mmHg, inlet air flow rate 1.0 L/min.

In order to study the seasonal patterns and possible origins of air concentrations of volatile organic compounds(VOC), measurements were taken with GC-MS at 3 sampling sites in Jinju for 12 months from Mar. 2010 to Feb. 2011. Atmospheric VOC are sampled on tubes containing solid adsorbents(Tenax TA) with a time resolution of 2hrs. Composition and concentration of VOC are analysed with a GC system equipped with thermal desorption apparatus(ATD). The most abundant compound appeared to be Toluene, Ethylbenzene and m,p-Xylene. The mean concentrations of Benzene were 0.20 ppb at GN site, 0.18 ppb at DA site, and 0.25 ppb at SP site, respectively. VOC concentration showed a strong seasonal variation, with higher concentrations during the spring and lower concentrations during the summer. The results showed that monthly fluctuations in measured VOC concentrations depended on variations in the strength of sources, as well as on photochemical activity and meteorological conditions. In Jinju, the total VOC emissions for 2009 were estimated to be 4,407 ton/year by Clean Air Policy Support System(CAPSS). It is shown that solvent use 57.5%(2,534 ton/yr), waste treatment and disposal 23.3%(1,025 ton/yr), and mobil source-road traffic 12.2%(537 ton/yr) are the most significant anthropogenic source.

This research had been conducted from May to October 2007, studying 110 residents of G, Y, H industrial area in Jun-nam province. It is designed to understand the difference in levels of indoor, outdoor and personal exposure to VOCs(benzene, toluene, Ethylbenzene) and a health risk assessment was conducted to see if there was any fatal cause from carcinogenic or non - carcinogenic elements from a case group and a control group in all areas as well as each different area. In the case of benzene in the air, the geometric levels for the case group are indoor, outdoor and personal exposure; a higher than for the control group. As a results of the Monte - Carlo study about benzene, it shows that the case group’s carcinogenicity is higher than that of the control group and it also shows that, on the CTE, RME condition and Monte - Carlo analysis, all subjects are seen to exceed the carcinogenicity tolerance 10-6 of US EPA. In the case of toluene, ethylbenzene on the CTE, RME condition and Monte - Carlo analysis, these do not exceed the non - carcinogenic standard of 1, but toluene in RME condition for both groups’ personal exposure and the indoor and personal exposure of ethylbenzene in Monte - Carlo show that these seem to exceed the standard.

Emission rate of monoterpene and isoprene was measured in five commonly growing tree species of conifers(Pinus thunbergii, Abies koreana, Cryptomeria japonica, Pinus densiflora, Chamaecyparis obtusa) at the Halla mountain sites. Dynamic flow enclosure technique was used and gas samples were collected into Tenax tube. The highest and lowest hourly emission rate was observed in Abies koreana (1.86 ㎍/gdw/hr) and Chamaecyparis obtusa (0.52 ㎍/gdw/hr), respectively. The major species of monoterpene from pine trees were α-pinene, β-pinene, β-phellandrene, myrcene. Particularly, d-limonene was abundant in Abies koreana but α-pinene, d 3 -carene and sabinene was in Cryptomeria japonica. Emission rates of isoprene show less significant than those of monoterpene. And also seasonal emission rates of monoterpene were dependent on environmental factors such as temperature.

This is a study on the volatile organic compounds(VOCs) concentrator with zeolite adsorptive honey rotor and catalytic combustion system for abating VOCs emitted from printing industry. VOCs emitted from the printing industry is mainly caused by organic solvent of printing ink. The content of organic solvents in printing ink varies from 40% to 75% and its content in the gravure ink is higher than that in any other ink. The average concentrations of each VOCs are 139 ppm for toluene, 152.1 ppm for MEK, 256.9 ppm for methanol and 42.9 ppm for isopropyl alcohol. We used zeolite honeycomb for absorbent of VOCs concentrator and palladium for catalyst combustion system. This system abated over 96% of emitted total VOCs, 98% of toluene, 100% of MEK, 92% of methanol and 100% of isopropyl alcohol. It is concluded that the low-leveled high-volume VOCs emitted from printing process were removed almost by concentrator with zeolite adsorptive honey rotor and catalytic combustion system.

Emission characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were investigated in the flue gas emitted from wood drying process for plywood manufacturing. The moisture content of raw timber was average 48%, and its density was 831.55 kg/m3. But the moisture content of dried wood is needed less than around 10%, thus the moisture contents of flue gas should be remarkably high(about 18.2 V/V%). Therefore, the vapor in flue gas is equivalent to 320 ton-vapor/day when 1100 ton-wood/day is treated in the wood drying process. The temperature of flue gas ranges from 140℃ to 150℃ in each dryer stack with exception of the input site of wood(about 110℃). The velocity of flue gas in each stack ranges from 1.7 to 9.7 m/sec. In order to assess the concentrations and attribution rate of odorous compounds, it was analyzed about 40 VOCs in the flue gases. It was found that the major odorous compounds were 8 compounds, and the concentrations of major VOCs(ppm) were as follows; benzene: 0.054～0.052, toluene: 1.011～2.547, ethylbenzene: 0.472～2.023, m,p-xylene: 0.504～3.245, styrene: 0.015～0.148, o-xylene : 0.271～1.097, ethanol: 11.2～32.5, α-pinene: 0.908～10.578, β-pinene: 0.982～14.278. The attribution rate of terpenes (α-pinene, β-pinene) was about 60.56%, and that of aromatics and alcohols was about 22.77%, and 16.67%, respectively. It is suggested that the adequate control device should be used to control both the water soluble and non-soluble compounds because both compounds were mixed in flue gas.

The VOCs have a direct influence on indoor air pollution, and stimulate respiratory organs and eyes in human body. Also, most of VOCs are a carcinogenic substances and causes to SBS (sickness building syndrome). Therefore, this study was progressed in photocatalysis of VOCs using UV/TiO2 which was a benign process environmentally. The experiments were performed to know photodegradation characteristics as crystalline structure of TiO2 which had anatase, rutile and P-25 (anatase:rutile=70:30). The main purpose of this study was to identify photocatalytic characteristics as inlet concentration of reactants, H2O, and residence time.

This study was to assess the lifetime cancer and non-cancer risk of exposure of worker and user at public facilities in Korea to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We measured the concentrations of two aldehydes and five VOCs in indoor air at 424 public buildings that 8 kinds of public facilities (70 movie theaters, 86 offices, 86 restaurants, 70 academies, 22 auditoriums, 30 PC-rooms, 30 singing-rooms and 30 bars) all over the country. There were estimated the human exposure dose and risks with averages of the using-time and frequency for facility users and office workers, respectively. Carcinogens (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and benzene) were estimated the lifetime excess cancer risks (ECRs). non-carcinogens (toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene) were estimated the hazard quotients (HQs). The average ECRs of formaldehyde and benzene for facility worker and user were 1×10-3~1×10-4 and 1×10-4~1×10-5 level, respectively, in all facilities. HQs of four non-carcinogens did not exceed 1.0 for all subjects in all facilities. The estimated ECRs for restaurant and auditorium were the highest, and the PC-room and bar were the next higher facilities. Furthermore, people in a smoking facility had the highest cancer risk. Higher ECRs of formaldehyde and benzene were observed in indoor smoking facilities such as restaurant and auditorium. Higher HQs of toluene and xylene were observed at the restaurant and office building.

This study was performed in 30 selected apartments in Seoul, Asan and Daegu area which were constructed within 4 years and over 4 years, to measure the concentration of VOCs(benzene, toluene, xylene) from July, 2004 to September. Mean ratios of indoor to outdoor VOCs concentrations in the construction under 4 years were higher in 1 than average, I/O ratio of over 4 years were lower in 1. This was considered that the VOCs density influences indoor pollutant. For the indoor air quality estimation, the deposition constant and the source strength factor of toluene were 1.49±2.05 hr-1 and 36.95±52.26 ppb/h, respectively.

It will be necessary to make proper management plans to preserve the air quality in good level for the public. In order to make these plans, source information and detail emission inventories of the city and near industrial areas should be given. However, lack of the source measurements data makes us more difficult to complete the source inventory. VOC source inventory could be utilized for the feasibility study to estimate the contribution of VOC sources presenting to the receptor such as residential area. It may give policy maker an idea how to control the air quality, and improve their social environment in the area. This study shows data that measured VOCs concentrations from the local industrial areas in Jeonju during from May 2005 to January 2006. The samples were collected from the near sources in 7 major factories in the industrial park as well as 5 general sources in near city Jeonju area to elucidate the abundances of speciated VOCs and their spacial and temporal distributions depending on source bases. Industrial sources are as follows; chemical, food, paper, wood, metal, non-metal (glass), and painting (coating) industries. The 5 general sources are sampled from tunnel, gasoline gas station, dry cleaning shop, printing (copy) shop, and road pavement working place in urban area. To understand the near source effect at receptor, samples from the 2 receptor sites (one is at center of the industrial complex and the other site is at distance residential area downwind from the center) were collected and analyzed for the comparison to source concentration. The mass contributions of the speciated VOC to total mass of VOCs measured from the different sources and ambient (2 receptors) were presented and discussed.

Indoor air quality is the dominant contributor to total personal exposure because most people spend a majority of their time indoors. Especially when indoor environments have sources of contaminants, exposure to indoor air can potentially pose a greater threat than exposure to ambient air. In this study, estimations of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde emission rate in indoor environments of new apartments were carried out using mass balance model in indoor environment, because indoor air quality can be affected by source generation, outdoor air level, ventilation, decay by reaction, temperature, humidity, mixing condition and so on. Considering the estimated emission rate of volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde, it is suggested that new apartment should be designed and constructed in the aspect of using construction materials to emit low hazardous air pollutants.

This study introduces a method to eliminate formaldehyde and benzene, toluene from indoor air by means of a photocatalytic oxidation reaction. In the method introduced, for the good performance of the reaction, the effect and interactions of the TiO2 catalyst and ultraviolet in photocatalytic degradation on the reaction area, dosages of catalysts, humidity and light should be precisely examined and controled. Experiments has been carried out under various intensities of UV light and initial concentrations of formaldehyde, benzene and toluene to investigate the removal efficiency of the pollutants. Reactors in the experiments consist of an annular type Pyrex glass flow reactor and an 11W germicidal lamp. Results of the experiments showed reduction of formaldehyde, benzene and toluene in ultraviolet /TiO2/ activated carbon processes (photooxidation-photocatalytic oxidation-adsorption processes), from 98% to 90%, from 98% to 93% and from 99% to 97% respectively. Form the results we can get a conclusion that a ultraviolet/Tio2/activated carbon system used in the method introduced is a powerful one for th treatment of formaldehyde, benzene and toluene of indoor spaces.

An experimental study on the removal of VOCs gas using a biomembrane reactor were carried out at various inlet gas concentration, specific loading rate, retention time and gas flow rate of volume. The variations of efficiency and various parameters, which are relevant to gas removal, with mixing of soluble gas and without have been discussed. More than 95% of the toluene and methanol present in the feed was successfully removed in each study. The elimination of methanol with mixture of soluble compound of about 300 mg/h corresponds to a portion of 21 % if there is a feed stream of 1400 mg/h. On the contrary the maximum efficiency of about 72% of toluene was reached. This is to be rated as a treatment of sorption that the limiting factor of the dismantling speed could be represented by this difficult degradable component. Nevertheless the elimination capacities for this reactor for toluene were on a very high level. For substances which show a very high solubility in silicon rubber an advantage of a bio membrane is clearly shown. Therefore a similarly good result is expected for n-hexane, because of its relatively good permeability which was distinguished during permeation experiments.

The objective of this research was to investigate the removal efficiencies of VOCs and odors with newly developed biofilter which was designed to sustain the biofilm constantly on the packed media. Initially, four types of media, for example, fiber, activated carbon, ceramic and the mixture of activated carbon and ceramic(A/C mixture), were used for packed materials of biofilter. When ethylalcohol was selected as a test gas for media efficiency, fiber and A/C mixture had better removal efficiencies of ethylalcohol than others. Removal efficiencies for acetaldehyde, ethylalcohol, butylalcohol, ethylacetate and diethylamine in biofilter with fiber and A/C mixture as packed media were increased as the residence time increased. Butylalcohol, especially, showed the maximum removal efficiency among all used VOCs and odors. In case of ethylacetate, the difference of removal efficiencies between low and high residence times was wide remarkably.