Volatiles Organic Compounds (VOCs) analysis

For a few years, the improvement of indoor air quality (IAQ) has become a priority in industrialized countries. The indoor air pollutants, mainly VOCs, have an impact on human health (sick building symptoms), comfort and productivity.

In this context, a new regulation is being set in France for a better management of IAQ with the definition of guide values for various primary pollutants.

The improvement of the IAQ involves in particular:

• The optimization of ventilation conditions
• The reduction at source of VOC emissions (coming mainly from building, decoration, furniture materials, cleaning products, deodorizers, combustion processes and the occupants’ activity)
• An additional solution by implementing treatment methods (for example air purifiers based on different technologies)

Our equipment and our know-how allows us to offer  help and tools to evaluate the impacts of products, of processes, of commercialized industrial treatments methods or of development in air quality.

Expertise

Evaluation of the efficiency and of the safety of industrial products and processes

• Implementation of adapted methodologies to study the impact of pollutants or processes matching the targeted use
• Carrying out sealed vessel tests to quantify VOCs at low levels (few µg/m³)
• Carrying out of standardized tests
• Determination of the VOCs degradation kinetic and yield, tracking of reaction by-products, quantification of the mineralization
• Scientific support for products and processes diagnosis/development

Implementation of specific treatment techniques

• Photochemistry, photooxydation, photocatalyse, use of light sources
• Advanced oxidation techniques : proposition of methods and solutions for the reduction of pollutants

Bibliographic studies

Examples of works accomplished

• Evaluation of the efficiency air purifiers and photocatalytic materials : carrying out of standardized tests according to the AFNOR XP B44-013 standard
• Study of the dumping of agricultural materials : measurement of formaldehyde and VOC emissions under irradiation and indarkness

• Characterization of VOCs released in the ambient air by building materials
• Tests of cosmetology active principles : methodology developed for the exposure to model VOCs from the ambient air

Analytical devices