Evaluation of emissions of total volatile organic compounds from carpets in an environmental chamber

An environmental test chamber with controlled temperature, relative humidity and airflow rate has been used to evaluate emissions of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) from 11 new carpets. The quantity of TVOCs emissions was measured by a gas chromatography/flame ionisation detector. The TVOCs emissions of each product were tested as a function of time. The results showed that the time dependence of TVOCs concentrations and the change of emission rates with time can be described by a double-exponential model. With this double-exponential model, the initial emission rates (E10 and E20) and emission decay constants (k1 and k2) in evaporation- and diffusion-dominated phases were simulated. These emission parameters could be used in estimation of TVOCs concentrations in an indoor environment. Model evaluation studies indicate that the Highclass carpet has the smallest model accuracy while the Double-diamond and Classic design carpets have the largest model accuracy.