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Application Note: VOC regulations

Application Note: VOC regulations
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Mass Flow Devices Application Note: VOCs Measurement Axetris mass flow controllers for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) measurement Stricter VOC regulations require high-performing analytical instrumentation Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are organic substances in our environment that are volatile at room temperature. They can be emitted from a number of common materials, such as construction material, textiles, and adhesives. The link to harmful health effects of VOCs has resulted in an increased awareness and regulations to limit VOC exposure in various countries in recent years. Axetris mass flow meters (MFM) and controllers (MFC) are used in a number of analytical instruments which are used to detect and quantify VOCs, delivering key performance advantages. VOC concentrations in the environment have a major impact on our well-being, comfort, and productivity. A number of countries have thus acted to set up new legislations to measure and control VOC emissions. The amendments to the Clean Air Act (CAA) of the United States and the “10 Measures for Environmental Protection” passed by the Chinese Government, initiated in 1990 and 2013 respectively, are important milestones in VOC regulation. Testing for VOC emissions from various materials, e.g. in automotive interiors, has gained importance across the world. Analytical techniques must provide sensitive and definitive measurements of VOCs in ambient air at sub parts per billion (ppb) concentrations to prove conformity to such legislations. Axetris mass flow meters (MFM) and controllers (MFC) are used in a variety of analytical instruments, such as gas chromatographs or air samplers, where they help achieve the required detection performance. Key parameters to measure VOC concentration Sorption rates of VOCs onto/from indoor surfaces are important factors driving their concentrations in the environment. VOC emission/sorption by indoor surfaces needs to be measured taking into account different key parameters such as the sorption coefficients, diffusion coefficients and the mass transfer coefficient through the boundary layer. An important prerequisite in achieving repeatable results is a high-performance flow measurement or control of the carrier gas used. All about the right flow Advantages over a wide range of analytical techniques For sampling applications in VOC measurement, Axetris VOC emission from and testing of materials has gained in importance, e.g. in automotive interiors Advantages of Axetris‘ Mass Flow Meters and Controllers 99 World-leading reproducibility 99 Unmatched dynamic range (>1000:1) 99 Compact OEM versions mass flow meters and controllers are often used in analytical techniques such as purge-and-trap, headspace and thermal desorption. For VOC quantification, gas chromatography (GC) is often applied, often in combination with a mass spectrometer (GC-MS) for analysis. Here again, high reproducibility of Axetris mass flow meters and controllers supports carrier and detection gas flow control. Creating Standard Reference Samples Axetris mass flow meters and controllers provide the accuracy and repeatability needed to produce standard reference samples. A standard sample is a mixture of known VOC concentration from liquid injection and/ or bottled gas. Precise sample preparation to analyze for VOC concentrations requires highly reproducible mass flow controllers. Additionally, gas mixers that are used to create sample concentrations should be able to work across a wide flow range to allow for analytical

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Mass Flow Devices Application Note: VOCs Measurement axetrisCompany of the Leister Group flexibility. Because of this, besides delivering high precision and reproducibility, the mass flow controllers must work across a wide dynamic range and various performance parameters. Dynamic Range of Axetris Mass Flow Controllers Excellent Dynamic Range - In this performance test, 6 Axetris mass flow controllers (F.S. = 1000 sccm) were tested at set points of <1 sccm (0.1% F.S) About Axetris Mass Flow Meters and Controllers Axetris offers OEM mass flow meters (MFM) and controllers (MFC) which offer...

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