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. The potential of sheep wool insulation as a sustainable and natural solution to this problem is demonstrated. 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 followed by their thermal desorption and gas chromatography. The data presented indicates that wool is able to absorb a range of VOCs in differing amounts and that the amounts and types of VOCs absorbed were dependent on the sheep breed and the processing of the wool. The data also shows that absorption occurs in a distinctive manner, more or less as a function of percentage of the amount wool fibres are exposed to rather in an indiscriminate absorptive manner; rather it buffers indoor VOC levels to smooth down spikes in concentrations over time. The use of wool in building design may therefore have an important role not only in imparting thermal efficiency but also in the improvement of indoor air qualit

Sheep wool insulation for the absorption of volatile organic compounds (PDF Download Available). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301290707_Sheep_wool_insulation_for_the_absorption_of_volatile_organic_compounds [accessed May 9, 2016].