Detecting VOCs (volatile organic compounds) is complicated because they tend to evaporate very easily at room temperature. They form a large family of gases and gaseous substances, many of which are considered pollutants, toxic or carcinogenic. Their volatile nature allows them to spread rapidly in the atmosphere, hence the need to detect and measure them to better protect ourselves. A variety of VOC detection techniques are available, from simple passive rosette to PID lamp and chromatography.

Detection of volatile organic compounds (VOC)

Their properties and health effects vary depending on their nature. They can range from simple olfactory disturbance to mutagenic disorders, various irritations and decreased respiratory capacity. VOCs Determination of toxicity (rather than explosiveness) in (fixed or portable) is much wiser to analyze the gas concentrations present.

In fact, the detection of VOCs There is a real illogicality about . Indeed, even if they are capable of forming explosive compositions, current concentrations must reach tens of thousands of parts per million (ppm). The main risk of volatile organic compounds is their toxicity at low concentrations on the order of a few tens of ppm.

5 VOC groups

Alkanes

Alkanes (or hydrocarbons) come mainly from petroleum products and contain only carbon and hydrogen atoms, such as: butane , ethane, heptane, hexane, octane, pentane or propane . In general, alkanes are not very reactive and play less of a role in ozone formation than other VOCs.

Alkenes and alkynes

Alkenes and alkynes, acetylene, ethylene are unsaturated hydrocarbons characterized by at least one double bond (alkenes) or triple bond (alkynes) between two carbon atoms, such as isoprene or propylene. These are mainly used in the chemical industry and are produced during oil refining. Alkenes are more reactive than alkanes due to the presence of a double bond, alkynes are even more reactive (triple bond).

Aldehydes and ketones

Aldehydes and ketones are unsaturated organic compounds (also called carbonyl compounds) obtained as a result of incomplete combustion of fuels or wood, or chemical derivatives of an alcohol formed by the loss of two hydrogen atoms (ketones), e.g. acetone, acrolein, formaldehyde or MEK.

Monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, cymene, naphthalene, styrene , toluene or hydrocarbons containing a benzene nucleus, such as xylene.

Halogenated hydrocarbons

Halogenated hydrocarbons include chlorinated, brominated, or fluorinated hydrocarbons. These VOCs are present in the air due to their use as solvents, refrigerants, insecticides, or aerosol propellants such as chlorobenzene, chloroform, vinyl chloride, freons R11, R12, R22, R114, or trichloroethylene. These compounds are quite stable and can persist in the atmosphere for long periods of time.

Sectors of activity exposed to VOCs

Due to the impressive number of substances grouped under this name and their highly volatile nature, volatile organic compounds (non-exhaustive list) are present in a large number of industrial sectors such as:

Cosmetics industry: deodorants, disinfectants, nail polish or nail hardeners
Medical, paramedical and veterinary sector: alcohol, bactericides, insecticides
Food industry: disinfectants
Paper industry: Orange packaging, computer paper
Industry and use of dyes and printing inks (preservatives)
Industry and use of dyes and printing inks (preservatives)
Textile industry: de-icing, bleaching of colored textiles
Leather and fur industry: preservation and tanning of leather, preservative
Disinfection of premises: household detergents
Horticulture and agriculture: Bactericides, fungicides and herbicides
Photography: stabilizers and stabilizers
Exhaust gases from diesel engines
Fumes from burning wood, coal and polyethylene
Gasoline and oil refining