TY - JOUR

T1 - Absorption of Volatile Organic Compounds by Different Wool Types

AU - Mansour, E.

AU - Curling, S.F.

AU - Stéphan, Antoine

AU - Ormondroyd, G.A.

N1 - European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013), grant agreement number 609234 ; Stiftelsen Nils och Dorthi Troëdssons forskningsfond ; Formas-financed project EnWoBio [2014-172].

PY - 2016/3

Y1 - 2016/3

N2 - This paper summarises the quantitative analysis of the absorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), namely gaseous formaldehyde, toluene, limonene and dodecane, by different wool types. VOCs are of increasing concern due to their role as accumulating indoor air contaminants and this paper demonstrates the potential of wool as a sustainable and natural solution to this problem. Building upon previous data, different wool types were tested via two different methods to assess their absorption ability with regard to these VOCs. For formaldehyde analysis, samples were subjected to cycles of exposure to excess formaldehyde gas whilst the weight gain was measured. For the other VOCs, a modified micro-chamber was used to flow the gases through samples, followed by trapping and quantification of the non-absorbed VOCs using Tenax TA tubes. The data presented indicates that wool is able to absorb a range of VOC’s in differing amounts. The data also shows that the amount and type of VOC’s absorbed by wool was dependent on the sheep breed and the processing of the wool.

AB - This paper summarises the quantitative analysis of the absorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), namely gaseous formaldehyde, toluene, limonene and dodecane, by different wool types. VOCs are of increasing concern due to their role as accumulating indoor air contaminants and this paper demonstrates the potential of wool as a sustainable and natural solution to this problem. Building upon previous data, different wool types were tested via two different methods to assess their absorption ability with regard to these VOCs. For formaldehyde analysis, samples were subjected to cycles of exposure to excess formaldehyde gas whilst the weight gain was measured. For the other VOCs, a modified micro-chamber was used to flow the gases through samples, followed by trapping and quantification of the non-absorbed VOCs using Tenax TA tubes. The data presented indicates that wool is able to absorb a range of VOC’s in differing amounts. The data also shows that the amount and type of VOC’s absorbed by wool was dependent on the sheep breed and the processing of the wool.

U2 - 10.1680/jgrma.15.00031

DO - 10.1680/jgrma.15.00031

M3 - Article

VL - 4

JO - Green Materials

JF - Green Materials

SN - 2049-1220

IS - 1

ER -