Correlation between physicochemical properties of natural building materials and adsorption behaviour of volatile organic compounds

摘要

The present study correlates the physicochemical properties of commercially available natural building materials, such as lime mortar, wood-based panels and natural fibres, with their adsorption of VOCs. Experiments to determine the adsorption characteristics of toluene, limonene, dodecane and formaldehyde were carried out over a 48 hour period using environmental chambers with controlled temperature and relative humidity. The adsorption behaviour was then related to the chemical nature of the materials and also to their physical properties, such as microstructure and porosity. The outcomes of this study will be useful when developing new building materials and will serve to broaden the current understanding of interactions between various solids and airborne VOCs.