Available online 28 February 2013
Publication year: 2013
Source:Building and Environment
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) constitute important classes of indoor air contaminants and characterizing their emissions from building materials and consumer products is of great interest for the purpose of risk assessment and developing environmentally benign products. Compared with emission chamber studies, emission models provide a more cost efficient and powerful way to examine the emission behaviors of VOCs and SVOCs. The objective of this paper is to review existing mechanistic models for predicting VOC and SVOC emissions from various sources, investigate their differences and similarities, and discuss the mass-transfer mechanisms on which the models are constructed. Because the usefulness of the emission models largely depends on the availability and reliability of model parameters, techniques for estimating key model parameters are also reviewed. The models covered in this review fall into three categories: models for VOC emissions from solid materials; models for VOC emissions from liquid materials; and models for SVOC emissions. VOC and SVOC emissions can be modeled within a very consistent mass-transfer framework with the three model categories being intimately related. While substantial advances have been made in developing predictive models and understanding emission mechanisms, large knowledge gaps still exist and further research is needed.
► Mechanistic models for predicting VOC and SVOC emissions are reviewed. ► Covers VOC emissions from wet and dry materials and SVOC emissions from dry materials. ► Techniques for estimating key model parameters are also reviewed. ► 003FVOC and SVOC emissions can be modeled within a consistent mass-transfer framework
Publication year: 2013
Source:Building and Environment