Application of thermal desorption (TD) and GC-MS for determination of volatile organic residue in building materials

The method for determination of volatile organic compounds emitted by insulating materials such as: expanded polystyrene, glass wool and polyolefin sheetings has been described. Emission has been measured using environmental test chambers. For the isolation and preconcentration of the emitted compounds one used sorbent trapping (Tenax TA) followed by thermal desorption. Volatile organics were determined by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Their emission level (toluene, styrene and benzaldehyde) were ranging from 0.6 to 15 μg m - 2 h - 1 , with the relative standard deviation below 9%.