Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Testing

Volatile Organic Compounds VOC Testing

VOC Testing is important in detecting volatile organic compounds. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that evaporate into air and dissolve in water. 

VOCs are organic chemicals with high vapor pressure at room temperature due to their low boiling point which in turn causes molecules to evaporate into the air releasing potentially harmful substances. Certain VOCs are harmful to people and the environment causing long-term health effects.

While VOCs can escape from surface water through volatilization (evaporation) into the air, they are very persistence once they dissolve in groundwater.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Testing is done by collecting a sample for laboratory analysis, broken into parts using headspace or thermal desorption, and checked for harmful substances.

VOCs are present in both synthetic and natural materials. So, testing is done to ensure personal and environmental safety, as well as to verify that a product is in compliance with international VOC requirements. Product manufacturers need to be aware of VOC requirements and make sure their products are compliant. Common products that need Volatile Organic Compounds VOC Testing include paint, lacquer, ink, shoes, scented candles, carpet, fabric and textiles, aerosol sprays, and electronics.

VOC Testing Projects

If you are a laboratory performing Volatile Organic Compounds VOC Testing, check out these test requests Contract Laboratory has received:

  • Environmental laboratory needed for Volatile Organic Compounds VOC Testing   of air in canisters in race cars
  • Environmental toxicology laboratory needed for EPA California Proposition 65 testing for VOC in cardboard paper by CG/MS and or LC-MS .
  • Materials laboratory needed for independent third party testing of laminate flooring for 1) Test for ortho phthalate plasticizers 2) Following tests with relevant ASTM test parameters (for vinyl flooring) – Stain and chemical test – Static load limit – Dimensional stability – ASTM 648 – fire test – ASTM 662 – smoke test 3) Following tests for EN / ISO parameters i) ISO 10581: Homogeneous Flooring including all the sub standards – ISO 10874 – this is part of 10581 (classification of use) – EN 660-2: Abrasion Resistance ii) Standards as per ISO 14041 (CE Mark) – EN 13501-1: Fire standard – ISO 11925: Fire standard – EN 13893: Slip resistance – EN 1815 / 1081: Electric resistance standards – EN 717-1: Formaldehyde and PCP content testing – ISO 16000-6: VOC Emission testing iii) Additional Standards – ISO 846, part A, part C: Fungi and Bacteria testing – ISO 22196: Fungi testing – ISO 26987 – EN 423: Chemical testing – DIN 51130: Slip rating – Pendulum test (British Standard) – BS 7976-2
  • Cigarette manufacturer looking for laboratory to run testing for us on the 18 chemicals below. Ideally methods used would be those recommended by the Cooperation Centre for Scientific Research Relative to Tobacco (CORESTA) http://www.coresta.org/. Requirements for testing include 10 samples. Could you advise if you would have the means to collet smoke samples and perform the tests using the HLPC, GC/MS, LC/MS, IC etc.? HPHCs in Cigarette Smoke Family Method Acetaldehyde Carbonyls CRM N°74 (smoke) Acrolein Carbonyls CRM N°74 (smoke) Acrylonitrile Carbonyls CRM N°74 (smoke) 4-Aminobiphenyl PAAS CRM in progress (smoke) 1-Aminonaphthalene PAAS CRM in progress (smoke) 2-Aminonaphthalene PAAS CRM in progress (smoke) Ammonia NH3 CRM N°79 (tobacco and smokeless products) Benzene VOCs CRM N°70 (smoke) Benzo[a]pyrene BaP ISO 22634 (smoke) 1,3-Butadiene VOCs CRM N°70 (smoke) Carbon monoxide CO Crotonaldehyde Carbonyls CRM N°74 (smoke) Formaldehyde Carbonyls CRM N°74 (smoke) Isoprene VOCs CRM N°70 (smoke) Nicotine (total) Nicotine ISO 10315 (smoke) NNK* TSNAs CRM N°75 (smoke) NNN** TSNAs CRM N°75 (smoke) Toluene VOCs CRM N°70 (smoke)
  • Certified Materials Laboratory needed for coating testing of Three (3) mixed adhesive coating samples tested for the following: 1. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) content per ASTM D-3960, Section 8.2.4. (Determining Volatile Organic Content of Paints & Related Coatings) and/or SCAQMD Annex to ASTM D-3960) 2. Weight Fraction of non-volatiles (solids) per ASTM D-2369-81 (Volatile Content of Coatings). 3. Density of coating per ASTM D-1475 (Density of Paint, Varnishes, Lacquer, and Related Products).
  • Contract laboratory needed for radiation test in hydrocarbon samples. Below is some information about the samples Propane samples, which is a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), will be pressurized hydrocarbons gas in liquid state. The samples are in a steel sample cylinder. Vapors samples, which is mainly consists of Methane, Ethane and a little of Propane plus, could be (or not) pressurized hydrocarbons in vapor or gas state. The samples are in a steel sample cylinder. Natural Gasoline samples, which is a liquid hydrocarbon in atmospheric pressure, are in a Boston bottles. For Propane and 3 inlet vapor samples: Gross Alpha? Gross Beta? Radium 226? Radium 228? Strontium? Thorium? Uranium For one liquid natural gasoline sample: VOC? SVOC? RCRA metals including Hg+? Radium 226? Radium 228? Gamma

See more Volatile Organic Compounds VOC Test Requests.

Are you in need of your own VOC Laboratory Test Request? Let us help you! Submit a free test request on our website or call us toll free at 1-855-377-6821.