SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS OF VOLATILE ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS EVOLVED DURING THERMAL-PROCESSING OF ACRYLONITRILE-BUTADIENE-STYRENE COMPOSITE RESINS

The evaluation of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) durin g processing of resins is of interest to resin manufacturers and resin processors. An accurate estimate of the VOCs emitted from resin proce ssing has been difficult due to the wide variation in processing facil ities. This study was designed to estimate the emissions in terms of m ass of emitted VOC per mass of resin processed. A collection and analy sis method was developed and validated for the determination of VOCs p resent in the emissions of thermally processed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resins. Four composite resins were blended from automot ive, general molding, pipe, and refrigeration grade ABS resins obtaine d from the manufacturers. Emission samples were collected in evacuated 6-L Summa canisters and then analyzed using gas chromatography/flame ionization detection/mass selective detection (GC/FID/MSD). Levels wer e determined for nine target analytes detected in canister samples, an d for total VOCs detected by an inline GC/FID. The emissions evolved f rom the extrusion of each composite resin were expressed in terms of m ass of VOCs per mass of processed resin. Styrene was the principal vol atile emission from all the composite resins. VOCs analyzed from the p ipe resin sample contained the highest level of styrene at 402 mu g/g. An additional collection and detection method was used to determine t he presence of aerosols in the emissions. This method involved collect ing particulates on glass fiber filters, extracting them with solvents , and analyzing them using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS ). No significant levels of any of the target analytes were detected o n the filters.