Chemical composition analysis and its application in estimation of VOC emission rates from hydrocarbon solvent-based indoor materials

A method for estimating VOC emission rates from hydrocarbon solvent-based indoor materials has been developed. The estimation is based on the assumption that the emission rate of individual VOCs is proportional to its molar fraction in the evaporative mixture at the time, its saturated pure vapor pressure and total remaining VOCs in the material. The paper demonstrates, through three hydrocarbon solvent-based polyurethane surface coating materials, a practical way to calculate these three parameters using chemical composition analysis results. The estimated total VOC emission rates were in good agreement with the results of weight loss experiments.