Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds in Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Fibers by HS-GC-FID to Evaluate the Efficiency of Testing Conditions

Abstract

A method to determine the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the recycled polyethylene terephthalate fiber was presented by using the headspace sampling-gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detector (HS-GC-FID), in order to evaluate the level of VOC contamination. The extraction variables, such as the incubation temperature, the pre-incubation time and the size of the vial, were also studied. The effects on the determination of VOC were also compared using two type chromatographic columns. The optimal conditions were found using a headspace sampling for 20 min at 100 °C, where 120 mL vials and TM-1 column were prior to analysis of benzene compounds in PET(polyethylene terephthalate) fibers. The results can be used in analysis of VOC from recycled PET fibers.

Emission characteristics of volatile organic compounds from regenerated PET fibers based on the headspace gas chromatograph

“…Headspace volume directly determines the accuracy of detection results, and fibers occupies more volume of headspace vials for their fluffiness than other solid samples such as membrane materials, 35 plastics, 3 and other materials, 36–38 which is of great significance to the distribution of VOCs between gas and solid phase. Excessive volume of samples is not advised in the headspace because of sample occupation in the headspace vials in spite of more challenge on the detection sensitivity with less sample mass, 39 so the 120 ml vials were used in present experiments based on the previous work, 4 and how effect the mass of fiber has on the signals of VOCs was studied.…”

“…The postconsumed textiles directed to large‐scale municipal rubbish dumps may contaminated with unknown substances during the transportation and/or recycling resulted from not efficient selective collection system. Therefore, it may release VOCs as a result of thermal and/or thermo‐oxidative degradation 3,4 under secondary extreme temperature (ca. 280°C) during the regeneration process.…”

“…Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, styrene and xylene may exist in the recycled product as thermal or thermal‐oxidative degradation products of PET 14,15 . The regenerated PET fibers may contain VOCs for the extreme condition during the recycling process 4 . However, there is no sufficient results on the evaluation of VOCs emitting from fibers at present specially from regenerated PET fibers.…”