Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Wallpapers Using ATD-GCMS

Significance of the Topic

Wallcoverings made from vinyl are prized for their durability, design flexibility and cost‐effectiveness but introduce environmental and health concerns due to residual volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOC release from wallpapers can compromise indoor air quality and pose inhalation risks. Regulatory standards such as EN12149 and GB/T 35613‐2017 set limits on key VOCs, underlining the need for robust analytical methods to quantify emissions and ensure consumer safety.

Objectives and Study Overview

The primary goal was to develop and validate a targeted analytical workflow for 35 VOCs in vinyl wallpapers. The study demonstrates a sampling technique coupled with automated thermal desorption‐GC/MS to achieve sensitive, reliable quantitation in compliance with international guidelines. Two commercial wallpaper samples were assessed to illustrate method performance and regulatory conformity.

Methodology and Instrumentation

A controlled bag sampling approach captured VOCs emitted from 90 cm2 wallpaper sections incubated at 23 °C for 24 h under nitrogen. Sorbent tubes (Carbotrap® 300) collected emissions at 200 mL/min over 15 min. Thermal desorption and chromatographic separation were achieved on a PerkinElmer TurboMatrix™ 650 ATD coupled directly to a Clarus® SQ8 GC/MS with an Elite 624 capillary column (60 m × 0.25 mm × 1.4 µm). Key parameters included:

• Tube desorption at 325 °C, trap low at –30 °C, trap high at 325 °C
• Oven program: initial 35 °C hold 5 min, ramp 5 °C/min to 100 °C, then 15 °C/min to 200 °C
• MS in full‐scan mode (m/z 35–270), splitless inlet, ion source at 280 °C

Calibration and Quality Metrics

Calibration standards (5–100 µg/mL) delivered excellent linearity (r2 > 0.999) across 35 compounds. Reporting limits around 5 ng on tube yielded signal‐to‐noise ratios well above 100 for most analytes. Reproducibility and sensitivity met or exceeded typical requirements for indoor air and product safety testing.

Results and Discussion

Analysis of two wallpaper samples revealed all target VOC concentrations below the stricter threshold values of GB/T 35613‐2017 (e.g., benzene ≤ 0.01 mg/m2, TVOC ≤ 0.50 mg/m2). Toluene and xylene isomers showed the highest levels yet remained under regulatory limits (0.013–0.020 mg/m2 for toluene). The robust GC/MS method demonstrated clear separation of low‐boiling and aromatic compounds, aided by rapid oven cooling and optimized desorption conditions.

Benefits and Practical Applications

This ATD‐GC/MS workflow offers:

• High sensitivity and specificity for a broad VOC panel
• Minimal sample handling and reduced solvent use
• Compliance with international standards for indoor materials
• Applicability to quality control in manufacturing and environmental monitoring

Future Trends and Opportunities

Advancements may include novel sorbent materials for expanded VOC capture, portable ATD‐GC/MS units for on‐site screening, integration with automated data processing and machine learning for pattern recognition in complex sample matrices. Stricter global regulations and consumer demand for greener materials will drive further refinement of analytical protocols and lower detection thresholds.

Conclusion

The described method combining TurboMatrix™ 650 ATD and Clarus® SQ8 GC/MS delivers rapid, reliable quantitation of 35 VOCs in vinyl wallpapers. Its strong linearity, low detection limits and regulatory compliance make it well suited for industrial QA/QC, environmental assessments and product certification.

Reference

EN12149:1997, Wallcoverings in roll form - Determination of migration of heavy metals and certain other elements, of vinyl chloride monomer and of formaldehyde release.
GB/T 35613-2017, Green product assessment - Paper and paper products.