VOCs: nature, classes of compounds and environmental effects!
The goal of this article is to provide you information on the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), from three different perspectives:
Inside the definition there are the words “organic” and “volatile”. What is meant by these terms?
In summary, VOCs are organic molecules that can easily be found in gaseous environments. Let’s see what are the main categories of molecules that respect the definition given.
Before to distinguish the different types of molecules that characterize VOCs, it is useful to note that these molecules can come from natural sources (biogenic origin), human processes (anthropogenic origin), or from both sources.
The majority of natural compounds are derived from vegetables. These include methane (resulting from an anaerobic decomposition process of organic substrates), a class of unsaturated hydrocarbons called terpenes and other classes of organic compounds (such as esters, aldehydes, ketones and peroxides).
The man-made compounds instead, come mainly from industrial processes and products. This is the category of greatest interest for us so let us examine it in more detail. Among the VOCs produced by human processes we can include:
Now that we have developed a greater awareness of what are VOCs and what classes of molecules characterized it, it is useful to analyze the possible effects within the atmosphere.
In general it can be said that each pollutant has a characteristic time of permanence in the atmosphere, linked to its chemical-physical properties. The greater this time turns out to be, the more the pollutant can be dispersed in the atmosphere for work of winds and currents, altering the chemical balance of the atmosphere itself. For example, many VOCs affect the balance of methane (CH4), prolonging his stay in the atmosphere and thus contributing to the increase of the greenhouse effect.
It is also important to note that many VOCs are dangerous to humans and animals. Benzene, for example, is a carcinogenic compound characterized by high volatility. Formaldehyde is another toxic compound produced in high quantities, and commonly employed in many production processes. Even the halogen compounds have high volatility and toxicity; moreover, being tendentially hydrophobic, they can accumulate in the body.
Each chemical compound deserves a deep analysis, but that is outside the objectives of this article. We’ve seen what VOCs are, by which classes of compounds are characterized and their potential danger for the atmosphere and for living beings.
At this point, a spontaneous question arise: how is it possible to act in industrial processes to minimize the amount of VOCs released into the atmosphere? In answering this question it is important to take into account the potential flammability of these substances: sometimes turns out to be necessary to design ATEX plants.
The separation mechanisms and devices aimed at this goal will be the subject of a new article. To satisfy your curiosity, I invite you to examine immediately the equipment designed by Tecnosida® for this particular category of pollutants:
Find out our case history to discover their application!
See you soon with new interesting articles!
VOCs: nature, classes of compounds and environmental effects!
VOCs: nature, classes of compounds and environmental effects!
VOCs: nature, classes of compounds and environmental effects!
VOCs: nature, classes of compounds and environmental effects!
VOCs: nature, classes of compounds and environmental effects!
VOCs: nature, classes of compounds and environmental effects!
VOCs: nature, classes of compounds and environmental effects!
VOCs: nature, classes of compounds and environmental effects!
VOCs: nature, classes of compounds and environmental effects!
VOCs: nature, classes of compounds and environmental effects!
VOCs: nature, classes of compounds and environmental effects!
VOCs: nature, classes of compounds and environmental effects!
VOCs: nature, classes of compounds and environmental effects!
VOCs: nature, classes of compounds and environmental effects!
VOCs: nature, classes of compounds and environmental effects!
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