Formaldehyde mass-transfer properties study

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dc.contributor.authorZhao, Xiaominen
dc.contributor.committeechairLittle, John C.en
dc.contributor.committeememberCox, Steven S.en
dc.contributor.committeememberFrazier, Charles E.en
dc.contributor.departmentCivil and Environmental Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2015-03-05T07:00:19Zen
dc.date.available2015-03-05T07:00:19Zen
dc.date.issued2013-09-10en
dc.description.abstractFormaldehyde, an important feedstock in industrial processes and manufacture, is widely present in numerous consumer products. Emitted by many types of consumer products and indoor materials, indoor air can contain high concentrations of formaldehyde. Exposure to formaldehyde is hazardous to human health. Thus knowledge of formaldehyde mass-transfer properties is critical to efforts to reduce formaldehyde emissions and establish related standards and regulations. The primary objectives of this project include: 1) documenting and validating procedures and methods for analyzing and measuring formaldehyde mass-transfer characteristics; 2) evaluating and comparing formaldehyde mass-transfer properties in different materials using micro-balance sorption/desorption tests; 3) investigating observed formaldehyde mass-transfer irreversibility and the recently developed formaldehyde polymerization theory. The procedures and methods for analyzing and measuring formaldehyde mass-transfer characteristics were developed in an effort to minimize experimental variability and were strictly followed during the research. The formaldehyde mass-transfer properties of five polymer materials (polycarbonate, polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), polyethylene and polypropylene) were measured through sorption/desorption testing. Results indicated that formaldehyde solubility was highest in polyethylene while the rate of diffusion was the highest in polypropylene. Results also showed that the diffusion process in the selected polymer materials was irreversible in all cases. Furthermore, additional testing showed no detectable polyformaldehyde formation on polymer surfaces after exposure to formaldehyde. The causes of observed mass-transfer irreversibility need further study.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:1558en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/51597en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectemissionsen
dc.subjectreference materialen
dc.subjectformaldehydeen
dc.subjectpolycarbonateen
dc.subjectpolystyreneen
dc.titleFormaldehyde mass-transfer properties studyen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineCivil Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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