Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds in Water-based Paints and Varnishes Using GC-MS

Introduction

Water-based paint has been increasingly gaining popularity in the recent years for some of its advantages, such as drying faster and being easier to clean off, over oil-based paint (aka solvent-based paint). Furthermore, the biggest advantage of water-based paint is that it does not pervade the room with the strong smell that solvent-based paint does. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are responsible for the signature smell in paints, and are considered to be harmful to the environment, even more so for the people who work with them on a regular basis. In many countries, governmental regulations, consumer demands and technological advances have led to the development of low-VOC and zero-VOC paints and varnishes which have significantly less impact on human and environmental health. Currently, regulations are still not available in many countries in the Asian region. This application news aims to provide a general model on using GC-MS to determine the amount of VOCs in water-based paints and varnishes, in anticipation of any emerging regulations in the near future. Referring to the method described in ISO 11890-2:2013, thirty-five commonly used solvents in water-based paints and varnishes are analyzed and quantified.

June 27, 2014 GMT