{"id":82631,"date":"2024-04-06T01:08:56","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T23:08:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/obera.fr\/our-advice\/composes-organiques-volatiles-cov-impacts-gestion-industrie\/"},"modified":"2025-12-08T13:22:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T11:22:19","slug":"composes-organiques-volatiles-cov-impacts-gestion-industrie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/obera.fr\/en\/our-tips\/composes-organiques-volatiles-cov-impacts-gestion-industrie\/","title":{"rendered":"Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Impacts and Management in Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On an industrial site, Volatile Organic Compounds, VOCs, are among the ambient air pollutants<\/strong>, both indoor and outdoor. The term VOC encompasses a multitude of chemical substances. <\/p>\n\n

What do they have in common? They are composed of carbon and hydrogen, and under ambient conditions, they are either in a gaseous phase or in a liquid phase that will easily evaporate. VOCs impact air quality with consequences for human health<\/a>, the environment, and the economy. They are therefore subject to an official definition at the European level, which is then transposed nationally. Understanding the physicochemical properties of VOCs helps in taking appropriate preventive measures. Here is a quick overview<\/strong> that will familiarize you with the physical and chemical characteristics of VOCs that impact air quality. <\/p>\n\n

Regulatory definition of VOCs<\/h2>\n\n
\"design<\/figure>\n\n

Article 2, \u00a716 and \u00a717 of Council Directive 1999\/13\/EC of March 11, 1999 on ” the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to theuse of organic solvents <\/a>in certain activities and installations<\/em> ” gives the following two definitions:<\/p>\n\n

Organic compound:<\/strong> “any compound which, excluding methane, contains carbon and hydrogen, which can be substituted by other atoms such as halogens (e.g., fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine),<\/em> oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, or phosphorus, with the exception of carbon oxides (e.g., CO<\/em>2<\/sub><\/em>) and carbonates (e.g.: CO<\/em>3<\/sub><\/em>2-<\/sup><\/em>) and bicarbonates(e.g. HCO<\/em>3<\/sub><\/em>–<\/sup><\/em>) .<\/strong> ” <\/p>\n\n

Volatile organic compound (VOC) <\/strong>: any organic compound having a vapour pressure of 0.01 kPa or more at a temperature of 293.15 K(20\u00b0C)<\/em> or having a corresponding volatility under the particular conditions of use.<\/p>\n\n

The directive has been transposed into French law in the Environmental Code, article R224-48. It defines a VOC as “any organic compound whose initial boiling point, measured at a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa, is less than or equal to 250\u00b0C.”<\/p>\n\n

Volatile? Yes, but to varying degrees! Physical Classification of VOCs<\/h2>\n\n

To understand the extent of VOC emissions<\/strong> degrading ambient air quality<\/a>, we seek to determine their concentration. To do this, we rely on a physical characteristic: volatility. <\/p>\n\n

Volatility is the ability of a substance to evaporate at ambient temperature and pressure. <\/p>\n\n

VOCs are volatile, but to varying degrees. Since the volatility of a VOC depends on its vapor pressure, the effective saturation concentration ???????? (in \u00b5g.m-3<\/sup>) can be used as a classification criterion<\/strong>. Furthermore, volatility decreases as the molecular weight of the VOC increases. VOCs can also be classified according to the number of carbon atoms in their structure. <\/p>\n\n

volatility to non-volatility<\/strong><\/td>no. of carbon atoms<\/strong><\/td>effective saturation concentration <\/strong>????????<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
VOC Very volatile to volatile<\/td>nb C \u2264 11<\/td>???????? > 106 \u03bcg <\/sup>.m-3<\/sup><\/td><\/tr>
VOC-IVolatility Intermediate<\/td>12 \u2264 nb C \u2264 18<\/td>103<\/sup> \u03bcg.m-3<\/sup> <???????? \u2264106<\/sup> \u03bcg.m-3<\/sup><\/td><\/tr>
COSVSemi Volatil<\/td>18 < nb C \u2264 32<\/td>10-1<\/sup> \u03bcg.m-3<\/sup> <???????? \u2264103<\/sup> \u03bcg.m-3<\/sup><\/td><\/tr>
CONV Non-volatile at room temperature (particle)<\/td>nb C > 32<\/td>???????? < 10-1<\/sup> \u03bcg.m-3<\/sup><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

Note that non-volatile organic compounds at room temperature (CONV) will evaporate under specific conditions of use, linked to industrial processes<\/a>, or in the event of an accident (fire, explosion).<\/p>\n\n

Another classification of VOCs takes boiling temperature as a criterion. <\/p>\n\n

Volatility <\/strong><\/td>Boiling temperature<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Highly volatile <\/td>< (50 – 100 \u00b0C)<\/td><\/tr>
Volatile<\/td>(50 – 100 \u00b0C) to (240 – 260 \u00b0C)<\/td><\/tr>
Semi-volatile <\/td>(240 – 260 \u00b0C) to (380 – 400 \u00b0C)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

VOCs and odors<\/h2>\n\n

Some VOCs are odorless (butane, propane). Other VOCs may have more or less characteristic odors. Sulfur compounds, amines, oxygenated compounds (ketones, aldehydes), and certain aromatic compounds are particularly odorous. <\/p>\n\n

Classification of VOCs by chemical structure<\/h2>\n\n

VOCs constitute a vast class of chemical compounds<\/strong>, exhibiting a wide diversity of structures and properties. It is their common impact as air, water, and soil pollutants that groups them into this class. However, their structures, particularly the presence of atomic groups other than C and H, influence their chemical properties, and thus on the specific nature of their toxicity<\/strong> for humans and nature; and consequently, on the resulting economic effects. <\/p>\n\n

VOC structural criteria<\/h3>\n\n

VOCs are distinguished according to several non-exclusive structural criteria, each contributing to the nature and degree of their polluting properties: <\/p>\n\n