A comparative study of the performance of passive samplers

Management of ground tire rubber waste by incorporation into polyurethane-based composite foams

Rapid economic growth implicated the developing multiple industry sectors, including the automotive branch, increasing waste generation since recycling and utilization methods have not been established simultaneously. A very severe threat is the generation of enormous amounts of post-consumer tires considered burdensome waste, e.g., due to the substantial emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Therefore, it is essential to develop novel, environmentally friendly methods for their utilization, which would hinder their environmental impacts. One of the most promising approaches is shredding, resulting in the generation of ground tire rubber (GTR), which can be introduced into polymeric materials as filler. The presented work is related to the thermomechanical treatment of GTR in a twin-screw extruder with zinc borate, whose incorporation is aimed to enhance shear forces within the extruder barrel. Modified GTR was introduced into flexible polyurethane (PU) foams, and the impact of modification parameters on the cellular structure, static and dynamic mechanical performance, thermal stability, as well as thermal insulation, and acoustic properties was investigated. Emissions of VOCs from applied fillers and prepared composites were monitored and evaluated. Depending on the treatment parameters, beneficial changes in foams' cellular structure were noted, which enhanced their thermal insulation performance, mechanical strength, and thermal stability. It was proven that the proposed method of GTR thermomechanical treatment assisted by zinc borate particles might benefit the performance of flexible PU foamed composites and hinder VOC emissions, which could broaden the application range of GTR and provide novel ways for its efficient utilization.

Ground Tire Rubber Modified by Elastomers via Low-Temperature Extrusion Process: Physico-Mechanical Properties and Volatile Organic Emission Assessment

In this paper, low-temperature extrusion of ground tire rubber was performed as a pro-ecological waste tires recycling method. During this process, ground tire rubber was modified with constant content of dicumyl peroxide and a variable amount of elastomer (in the range: 2.5–15 phr). During the studies, three types of elastomers were used: styrene-butadiene rubber, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene grafted with maleic anhydride and ethylene-octene copolymer. Energy consumption measurements, curing characteristics, physico-mechanical properties and volatile organic compounds emitted from modified reclaimed GTR were determined. The VOCs emission profile was investigated using a passive sampling technique, miniature emission chambers system and static headspace analysis and subsequently quantitative or qualitative analysis by gas chromatography. The VOCs analysis showed that in the studied conditions the most emitted volatile compounds are dicumyl peroxide decomposition by-products, such as: α-methylstyrene, acetophenone, α-cumyl alcohol, methyl cumyl ether, while the detection level of benzothiazole (devulcanization “marker”) was very low. Moreover, it was found that the mechanical properties of the obtained materials significantly improved with a higher content of styrene-butadiene rubber and styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene grafted with maleic anhydride while the opposite trend was observed for ethylene-octene copolymer content.

Comparison of VOC Emissions Produced by Different Types of Adhesives Based on Test Chambers

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from building materials into the indoor air may cause discomfort associated with a perceptible chemical odour and may irritate the upper respiratory tract. Hence, it is vital to control indoor air pollution sources, such as interior finishing materials, including adhesives. The study involved carrying out a series of experimental tests of VOC emissions of 25 adhesives based on the ISO 16000 series standards. The research concerns three groups of construction adhesives with indoor applications, i.e., flooring (10), finishing walls and ceilings (6), and for other applications such as edge-gluing or gluing tiles or mirrors (9) differing in chemical composition. A series of temperature tests were carried out for a representative floor adhesive at selected temperatures: 25 °C, 35 °C and 45 °C. The theoretical correlation approach was adopted to characterise the relationship between the emission rate and temperature of selected chemical compounds.

Emissions and toxic units of solvent, monomer and additive residues released to gaseous phase from latex balloons

This study describes the VOCs emissions from commercially available latex balloons. Nine compounds are determined to be emitted from 13 types of balloons of different colors and imprints in 30 and 60 °C. The average values of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) emitted from studied samples ranged from 0.054 up to 7.18 μg g^-1 and from 0.27 up to 36.11 μg g^-1 for 30 °C and 60 °C, respectively. The dataset is treated with principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple curve resolution (MCR) to characterize its internal patterns. Here two groups on compounds are recognized - the first one related to balloon material, the second one being emissions of compounds previously adsorbed on balloon material. The toxicity assessment of MCR modeled balloons' emissions was performed by toxic unit (TU) approach. The obtained TUs were summed to give toxicity emission assessment. The incorporation of TUs allows to identify the balloons with the most toxic emissions- imprinted ones in 60 °C. The compounds of the highest TUs are hexanal and benzene. FTIR analysis shows that all balloons are made of the same polymeric material - isoprene, so all differences in emissions are related to different additives like pigments, imprints or these responsible for opaqueness. Analyzing the obtained research results it was noticed that latex balloons might be considered as an important source of emission of aliphatic and monoaromatic hydrocarbons to the gaseous phase.

Concentrations of monoaromatic hydrocarbons in the air of the underground car park and individual garages attached to residential buildings

The paper describes the characteristics of a two-level underground car park and three individual garages attached to residential buildings, differing by the resident utilization habits, located in North Poland (Tri-City agglomeration area). The strategy of collecting the analyte samples from air in mentioned enclosed areas, concerning the determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene and p,m-xylenes (BTEX) concentrations was performed using passive sampling technique - Radiello® diffusive passive samplers with graphitised charcoal cartridge as a sorption medium. The stage of liberation and final determination of collected analytes was conducted with the use of thermal desorption-gas chromatography-flame ionisation detector (TD-GC-FID) system. As a result of the performed measurements in two-level underground car park, it was observed that the time-weighted average concentrations of BTEX in air were as follows: Level-1 - benzene - 5.2±1.1μg/m³, toluene - 12.3±2.4μg/m³, ethylbenzene 2.85±0.80μg/m³, o-xylene - 4.6±1.4μg/m³, p, m-xylenes - 8.8±2,4μg/m³; Level-2 - benzene - 5.2±1.1μg/m³, toluene - 12.9±3.6μg/m³, ethylbenzene - 2.73±0.79μg/m³, o-xylene - 4.2±1.1μg/m³, p, m-xylenes - 8.5±2.3μg/m³. As for residential garages, the time-weighted average concentrations of BTEX in air were in the following ranges: from 5.9 to 53μg/m³ (benzene), from 7.1 to 195μg/m³ (toluene), from 3.0 to 39μg/m³ (ethylbenzene), from 5.6 to 44μg/m³ (o-xylene) and from 6.3 to 99μg/m³ (p,m-xylenes). Also, BTEX concentration ratios such as: tol/benz ratio and (m, p)-xyl/et.benz coefficient, were calculated based on the obtained results to assess the "freshness" of air mass and the influence exerted by vehicle movement on the concentration of BTEX in air in studied enclosed areas.

The effect of anthropogenic activity on BTEX, NO2, SO2, and CO concentrations in urban air of the spa city of Sopot and medium-industrialized city of Tczew located in North Poland

The major goal of the present study is to compare the air quality of two urban locations situated in Northern Poland - the spa City of Sopot and the medium-industrialized city of Tczew using chemometric methods. As a criterion for the assessment of atmospheric air quality, measurements of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and total xylenes were used (collected from atmospheric air using diffusion-type passive samplers) as well as measurements of inorganic compounds - CO, NO2 and SO2, which were subject to routine control and determined by means of automatic analysers. Studies related to determination of defined chemical compounds in the urban air in the monitored area were performed from January 2013 to December 2014. By interpreting the results obtained and using basic multivariate statistical tools (cluster analysis and principal components analysis), major sources of emissions of determined pollutants in the air in urbanized areas were defined. The study also shows the potential influence of the sea breeze on concentrations of chemical compounds in the atmospheric air in the spa city of Sopot.

Improvement in 8h-sampling rate assessment considering meteorological parameters variability for biogas VOC passive measurements in the surroundings of a French landfill

Passive sampling technology has been extensively used for long-term VOC atmospheric concentrations' monitoring. Its performances regarding the short-term measurements and related to VOC from biogas were evaluated in this work: laboratory scale experiments have been conducted in order to check the suitability of Radiello® diffusive samplers for the assessment of 8 h-VOC levels in highly changeable meteorological conditions; in a second step a short pilot field campaign was implemented in the vicinity of a West-French landfill. First of all, it was assessed that amongst a diversified list of 16 characteristic compounds from biogas, mercaptans, some halogenated, oxygenated compounds and terpenes could not be measured accurately by this passive technique either because they are not captured by the sorbent or they are not quantitatively desorbed in the chosen mediated analytical conditions. Moreover, it has been confirmed that sampling rates (SR) related to isopentane, THF, cyclohexane, toluene, p-xylene and n-decane are influenced by environmental factors: the main influence concerns the wind speed. From 2 m s(-1), when the velocity increases by 1 m s(-1), the SR increases from 12 to 32% depending on the COV (considering a linear dependence between 2 and 7 m s(-1)). Humidity has no effect on SR, and temperature influence is rather limited to less than 3% per degree. A comprehensive uncertainty estimation, including uncertainties linked to meteorological changes, has led to global relative uncertainties comprising between 18% and 54% from one VOC to another: a quite high value comparatively to those obtained without considering meteorological condition influences. To illustrate our results, targeted VOC were quantified in the field, on a single day: concentrations range between LD to 3 µg m(-3): relatively very low concentrations compared to those usually reported by literature.

Measurement of benzene concentration in urban air using passive sampling

The concentration of benzene in urban air in the Tri-City area of Poland (Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia, and Tczew) was assessed using diffusive passive samplers (Radiello). Samples were collected during a four-year monitoring campaign (2007-2010) at selected monitoring stations managed by the Agency of Regional Air Quality Monitoring in the Gdańsk Metropolitan Area (ARMAAG) Foundation. The performance of the passive samplers was investigated in a field study that measured the benzene concentration in urban air. The results obtained by the Radiello samplers were compared with the results obtained using an on-line monitor (Chrompack CP 7001). Statistical analysis of the results obtained by the two different techniques (passive and on-line) was performed by a linear regression method (Student's t-test). The influence of temperature fluctuations on the uptake rate behavior of the passive samplers was also investigated.