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Environmental dependence of formaldehyde emissions from pressed-wood products: experimental studies and modeling
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1984
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EngineeringAir QualityFormaldehyde EmissionsWood TechnologyRelative HumidityChemical EngineeringEnvironmental ChemistryIndoor AerosolTransport PhenomenaAir CleaningChemical EmissionWood ComponentEnvironmental Chamber StudyEnvironmental DependenceParticleboard Emissions DataEnvironmental EngineeringWood QualityIndoor Air QualityAir PollutionWood ModificationPressed-wood Products
An environmental chamber study has been performed to evaluate the dependence of formaldehyde (CH/sub 2/O) emissions from weak emitting particleboard underlayment and decorative hardwood plywood paneling materials on temperature, relative humidity (RH), and CH/sub 2/O vapor concentration. A broad range of temperature and humidity conditions from those of benign climate controlled dwellings to those of harsh summer periods are used. To evaluate the experimental data, two CH/sub 2/O emission models are developed from a simple mass transport theory of the bulk-vapor interphase at the surface of pressed-wood products, Model I examines the change in CH/sub 2/O concentration inside a single compartment containing a single CH/sub 2/O emitter as a function of temperature, RH and air exchange/loading (N/L) ratio. At a constant N/L = 0.5 m/h, the experimental results indicate a 4 to 6-fold increase in CH/sub 2/O concentration between 23/sup 0/C, 50% RH and 38/sup 0/C, 68% RH. An evaluation of the particleboard emissions data of Berge et al. using Model I provides similar results to those obtained in our study. Model II evaluates the change in CH/sub 2/O emission rate of the test products as a function of temperature, RH, and the CH/sub 2/O vapor concentration resulting from potentiallymore » one or more sources. This model is designed to be incorporated in indoor air pollutant concentration models for treatment of multiple emission sources. The results indicate a potential 10 to 30-fold increase in CH/sub 2/O emission rate between 23/sup 0/C, 50% RH and 38/sup 0/C, 68% RH at a constant CH/sub 2/O vapor concentratin of 0.1 ppM. The results for both Models I and II indicate potential 1.5- and 4-fold inter-product variation in the temperature and RH dependence of the CH/sub 2/O emissions, respectively. This report presents the results of the first of two environmental parameters studies for CH/sub 2/O emissions from pressed-wood products. 16 refs., 4 figs., 9 tabs.« less