VOC Overview
VOC is the abbreviation of volatile organic compounds. According to the WHO definition, volatile organic compounds (VOC) refer to various organic compounds with a boiling point of 50℃-260℃ under normal pressure.

VOC can be further divided into alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, aldehydes and others according to their chemical structure. More than 300 types have been identified so far. The more common ones are benzene, toluene, xylene, styrene, trichloroethylene, trichloromethane, trichloroethane, diisocyanate (TDI), diisocyanatotoluene, etc.

VOC sources:
1. Incomplete combustion: fuel combustion, garbage incineration, vehicles, etc.;
2. Process emissions: oil refining, petrochemicals, organic fine chemicals (paints, inks, adhesives, pesticides, medicines), etc.;
3. Oil volatilization: oil refining, petrochemicals, oil storage depots, gas stations, vehicles, etc.;
4. Solvent use: plastic and rubber product processing, industrial coating (cleaning), building coating, printing and packaging, wood and furniture manufacturing, shoemaking, leather, semiconductor and electronic product manufacturing, dry cleaning, automobile maintenance, etc.;
5. Biological action: sewage treatment plants, landfills, natural sources, etc.

VOC testing services
1. New national standard VOC testing for paints, inks, adhesives, and cleaning agents
In order to assist enterprises in the management and control of related materials and help them win the "blue sky defense war", SGS established comprehensive VOCs testing capabilities as soon as possible. At present, SGS has obtained the China Metrology Certification (CMA) qualification for coatings, adhesives, inks, cleaning agents and related supporting testing standards, which effectively helps enterprises to do a good job in source management and ensure that products meet the requirements of the national mandatory standards for VOCs.

2. VOC testing of home decoration materials
There are many types of decoration and decorative products, but the quality varies. The home decoration product testing services provided by SGS and comprehensive certification standards can help retailers, suppliers and manufacturers determine whether the products meet regulatory requirements, avoid economic losses caused by product accidents or recalls, and help your products win the market smoothly.
The main tested products include: candle aromatherapy, paint, material, adhesive; floor, carpet, wallpaper, ceiling; windows and doors; mattress; furniture, office furniture, children's furniture, etc.

3. Automobile VOC testing
The air quality in the car has now been listed as an industry hotspot and industry problem that major automobile OEM manufacturers around the world focus on. SGS has the approval qualifications of many OEMs, mainly through comprehensive VOC testing at the vehicle level, component level, and material level, so that the products meet international, national, and corporate standards and create a green and safe riding environment.
The main test items include: whole vehicle, cabin method, bag method, odor, atomization, formaldehyde, total carbon, VDA278, etc.

IV. VOC detection of stationery and cultural and educational products
The main test products include: teaching tools, books, exercise books, pigments, calligraphy and painting ink, ballpoint pens, gel pens, crayons, watercolor pens, chalks, highlighters, correction fluid, glue, paper clips, erasers, pen bags, key pendants.

New national standard for VOC
On July 3, 2018, the State Council issued the "Three-Year Action Plan for Winning the Blue Sky Defense War", which clarified the overall ideas, basic goals, main tasks and guarantee measures for air pollution prevention and control, and proposed a timetable and roadmap for winning the blue sky defense war. The plan regulates the VOC test methods and content limits for four VOC high-risk materials: coatings, inks, adhesives, and cleaning agents. In 2019-2020, the National Standardization Administration has formulated and announced 10 mandatory national standards for limiting the VOCs content of coatings, inks, adhesives, cleaning agents and other products. The list of standards and implementation dates are as follows:

Standard No.

Name

Alternative Standard

Implementation Date

GB 18581-2020

Limits of Hazardous Substances in Wood Coatings

GB 18581-2009

GB 24410-2009

2020-12-01

GB 18582-2020

Limits of Hazardous Substances in Wall Coatings for Buildings

GB 18582-2008

GB 24408-2009

2020-12-01

GB 24409-2020

Limits of harmful substances in vehicle coatings

GB 24409-2009

2020-12-01

GB 30981-2020

Limits of harmful substances in industrial protective coatings

GB 30981-2014

2020-12-01

GB 38468-2019

Limits of harmful substances in indoor floor coatings

2020-07-01

GB 38469-2019

Limits of harmful substances in marine coatings

2020-07-01

GB 33372-2020

Limits of volatile organic compounds in adhesives

GB 33372-2016

2020-12-01

GB 38507-2020

Limits of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in inks

2021-04-01

GB 38508-2020

Limits of volatile organic compound content in cleaning agents

2020-12-01

GB 38597-2020

Technical requirements for coating products with low volatile organic compound content

2021-02-01

In recent years, various regions have issued local or regional laws, regulations and rules and regulations in accordance with the "Law on the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution" and "Winning the Battle to Protect Blue Skies", encouraging the use of coatings, inks, adhesives and cleaning products with low volatile organic content. Traditional high-risk and high-pollution products must be upgraded and transformed to meet the requirements of green production.

The implementation of this series of standards will have a significant impact on the production and application companies of coatings, inks, adhesives and cleaning agents. At present, in response to the Blue Sky Defense Action Plan, end-user companies at all levels are investigating products such as coatings, inks, adhesives, and cleaning agents involved in the supply chain. With the implementation of the new national standard imminent, SGS can help companies implement effective product and raw material testing measures, strictly control product quality, and avoid environmental violations.

VOCs monitoring and emission reduction services
Comprehensively benchmarking GB 37822-2019 "Volatile Organic Compounds Unorganized Emission Control Standard", we can provide you with leak detection and repair, open liquid surface and unorganized emission monitoring, data management, consulting and communication, and customized database software development services to help companies achieve VOCs emission reduction.

1. Monitoring of total VOCs in ambient air and exhaust gas

1. Method: US EPA Method 25A;

2. Features: This method is suitable for continuous detection, obtaining continuous changes in TOC, and testing at the same time as import and export to facilitate the efficiency of treatment facilities, and is conducive to customer process adjustments for VOCs emission reduction.

2. Detection of characteristic VOCs pollutants (benzene, halogenated hydrocarbons, sulfides, etc.) in ambient air and exhaust gas
1. Method: GB, HJ, EPA, NIOSH;
2. Features: Targeted determination of specific pollutants, the basis for source analysis, early warning and governance through the detection of specific pollutants.

3. Investigation and analysis of unknown VOCs in ambient air and exhaust gas
1. Method: GC-MS full scan (TO-15, TO-17, HJ 644, HJ 734, HJ 759);
2. Features: Qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of unknown VOCs in gas, we will analyze the types of VOCs that may be contained in the gas through spectral library search, provide quantitative and semi-quantitative services for more than 100 compounds in US EPA TO-15 VOCs and more than 60 compounds in US EPA TO-17 VOCs quantitative detection services (or use the corresponding HJ method for testing services), and can perform semi-quantitative analysis on other compounds qualitatively identified by mass spectrometry.

IV. VOCs emission reduction plan for industrial enterprises
According to the specific situation of the enterprise, we will conduct VOCs emission verification and tailor-make emission reduction plans to help customers achieve the following goals:
1. Calculation of VOCs emissions/discharge fees;
2. Reduce the total amount of VOCs emissions;
3. Reduce material loss;
4. Safe production;
5. On-site compliance investigation.

V. VOCs leakage from equipment and pipelines - LDAR service
1. LDAR service: an integrated service from leak detection to data management
2. Leak detection service
3. Smart LDAR service
4. Leakage emission list
5. Database software development and data management
6. Training and communication
7. Other customized services