SIGNIFICANCE OF INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE FACTORS IN THE DETAILED CHARACTERIZATION OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

摘要

A detailed characterization of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in an indoor environment requires a satisfactory calibration of the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) instrument for obtaining individual response factors. In a recent study in Singapore involving 5 high-rise air-conditioned office buildings, such a calibration for individual response factors was accomplished using some individual compounds and commercially available standard gas containing 35 compounds. This paper describes the sampling and analytical methodology adopted and emphasizes the calibration procedures employed in obtaining the various response factors. An extensive analysis has led to a simple means of characterizing and computing TVOC_(GCMS) values without having to determine the response factors of a multitude of compounds. This paper presents our key findings of this analysis with a conclusion that the response factors of 7 abundant compounds yields as much valuable information about the VOCs as that from the individual response factors of 35 compounds.