The FLEC® has been validated and used in research for many years.
Below is a publication list of journal articles, abstracts, poster or oral presentations where the FLEC or CHEMATEC’s other products have been in focus.
If you have anything that can be added to the list, we encourage you to contact CHEMATEC.
2021 |
Plaisance, Herve; Ghislain, Mylene; Desauziers, Valerie In: Analytica Chimica Acta, vol. 1186, pp. 339100, 2021, ISSN: 0003-2670. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Gas-phase SVOCs generation System, Indoor air quality, Material emission, Organophosphate flame retardants, Polyurethane foams @article{Plaisance2021,Actual methods for on-site measurement of gaseous concentrations of Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs) at the material surface (y0) are not yet sufficiently developed mainly due to sampling difficulties. These concentrations are the key data to improve knowledge about indoor sources and human exposure to SVOCs. To the end, a specific emission cell coupled to solid-phase microextraction (SPME) was developed. The main challenge with this method is calibration because of very low volatility of SVOCs and static sampling mode. In this study, a generating system of organophosphate flame retardants (OFRs) using polyurethane foam as source combined with an active sampling method with Tenax tubes was proposed as a novel calibration device for SPME-based method. The generating system delivered stable OFR concentrations after 190 h of operation with a variation not exceeding ±5%. It allowed to obtain robust calibrations for tris-(2-chloropropyl)-phosphate (TCPP) and tri-butyl-phosphate (TBP) measured with the emission cell coupled to SPME-based method, define the optimal sampling requirements and achieve reproducible and accurate measurements of y0 at μg.m−3 level. TCPP and TBP gas-phase concentrations at the polyurethane foam surface (y0) were followed up over more 228 days under controlled temperature conditions. A high stability of these concentrations was observed showing that polyurethane foam acts as a stable and continuous source of organophosphate flame retardants indoors. This novel method should be useful for assessing the dynamic of emissions from indoor sources and potential exposure to SVOCs in indoor environments. |
2008 |
Järnström, H; Saarela, K; Kalliokoski, P; Pasanen, A -L Comparison of VOC and ammonia emissions from individual PVC materials, adhesives and from complete structures Journal Article In: Environment International, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 420 - 427, 2008, ISSN: 0160-4120, (Proceedings of the 1st Conference of the UK Network on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) 29th and 30th March 2006, University of Birmingham, UK). Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Adhesive, Material emission, PVC, VOC @article{JARNSTROM2008420,Emission rates of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ammonia measured from six PVC materials and four adhesives in the laboratory were compared to the emission rates measured on site from complete structures. Significantly higher specific emission rates (SERs) were generally measured from the complete structures than from individual materials. There were large differences between different PVC materials in their permeability for VOCs originating from the underlying structure. Glycol ethers and esters from adhesives used in the installation contributed to the emissions from the PVC covered structure. Emissions of 2-ethylhexanol and TXIB (2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate) were common. High ammonia SERs were measured from single adhesives but their contribution to the emissions from the complete structure did not appear as obvious as for VOCs. The results indicate that three factors affected the VOC emissions from the PVC flooring on a structure: 1) the permeability of the PVC product for VOCs, 2) the VOC emission from the adhesive used, and 3) the VOC emission from the backside of the PVC product. |
2007 |
Järnström, H; Saarela, K; Kalliokoski, P; Pasanen, A -L Reference values for structure emissions measured on site in new residential buildings in Finland Journal Article In: Atmospheric Environment, vol. 41, no. 11, pp. 2290 - 2302, 2007, ISSN: 1352-2310. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Ammonia, Formaldehyde, Material emission, Reference value, VOC @article{JARNSTROM20072290,A 3-year research project was established in 1999 to create numerical reference data for material emissions during the time of construction and during the first year. Seven buildings, representing the present construction practice in Finland, were investigated. Material emissions were measured by using the field and laboratory cell (FLEC) during the time of construction, in the newly finished, and in the 6- and 12-month-old buildings. The emission rates for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, and ammonia were determined. The highest total VOCs (TVOC) emissions were measured in the newly finished buildings from the ceiling structure and from some of the PVC floor coverings. These emissions were up to 1300–2000μgm−2h−1. Individual VOCs with emission rates above 50μgm−2h−1 included 2-(2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol and its acetate, C4–C16-substituted alkylbenzenes, and xylenes. The mean TVOC emission decreased at least to the Finnish M1-class level (200μgm−2h−1) from all surfaces and in all the buildings in 6–12 months. The ammonia and formaldehyde emissions from the ceiling structure were 20–60μgm−2h−1 in the newly finished buildings and the M1-levels (30/50μgm−2h−1) were exceeded in some cases. These emissions even increased in some buildings during the follow-up period indicating the difference between emissions measured in the laboratory and on site from real structures. Reference values based on the means and 95th percentile are presented to be utilised in both quality control and while investigating indoor air quality problems which are suspected to be caused by a defect structure. |