Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) — properties & hazards overview

Name: Volatile Organic Compounds Formula: Various (aliphatics, aromatics, oxygenates) CAS: mixture / varies UN: varies (mixtures/solvents)

Boiling range

~ −50 to 250 °C (wide)

Flash point

Often < 23–60 °C (many)

Vapour pressure

Low → high (species-dependent)

Water solubility

Immiscible → miscible (varies)

Flammability

Common for many VOCs

Toxicity

Irritant / neurotoxic (some)

Chronic risk

Carc./sens. for subsets

Environmental

Ozone/odour impact

Property	Value / Note
Composition	Alkanes, alkenes, aromatics (BTEX), oxygenates (alcohols, ketones, aldehydes), esters, halogenated VOCs, etc.
Physical state	Gases or volatile liquids at ambient; may condense into aerosols at low temperature/high load.
Reactivity	Readily oxidized; aldehydes/unsaturates react faster; halogenated VOCs may resist wet oxidation.
Typical sources	Solvent use, coating lines, printing, petrochemical vents, tank breathing, degassing, fermentation off-gas (oxygenates).
Typical analytical detection	PID (TVOC screening, fast); FID (THC/TVOC, very sensitive, not species-specific); FTIR (multi-component speciation, ppm→ppb); NDIR (targeted, higher ppm); GC-FID/GC-MS (speciation/trace); Dust/PM for condensable VOC aerosols with thermal desorption if needed.

*Indicative values; verify via process-specific data and current SDS for dominant species.

Hazards

Flammable Toxic/irritant (subset) Photochemical smog Sensitizer (some)

Fire/explosion risk for many VOC–air mixtures (static discharge during transfer).
Acute irritation and CNS effects; some compounds carcinogenic or hepatotoxic.
Odour complaints at sub-ppm for aromatics/oxygenates; ozone formation potential.

Scrubber approach

BTEX / alkanes: Activated carbon (polish or primary at low flow), or thermal/catalytic oxidation for higher loads.
Aldehydes (e.g., formaldehyde, acetaldehyde): Alkaline liquor + oxidant (H₂O₂) or bisulfite (NaHSO₃) addition route.
Ketones/alcohols/esters: Absorption in water/solvent or oxidation; watch for foaming and COD in wastewater.
Reduced sulfur VOCs (DMS/mercaptans): Alkaline + oxidant (NaOCl/H₂O₂) → sulfate, then carbon for odour.
Halogenated VOCs: Prefer carbon adsorption or thermal oxidation with HCl/HF scrubbing (wet oxidation often ineffective).

Operational

Characterize VOC mix (PID/FTIR screening + GC-FID/MS confirmation) before final design.
For scrubbers: monitor pH/ORP (oxidation routes), control temperature to avoid condensation, and prevent solvent breakthrough.
Use demisters and maintain droplet carryover < 0.01 g/Nm³ to protect downstream equipment.
For carbon beds: ensure LEL < 25% at inlet, use breakthrough monitoring, and plan for safe bed change-out.
Wastewater management: high COD possible; route to biological/oxidative treatment.

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Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) — properties & hazards overview

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