Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as Environmental Pollutants: Occurrence and Mitigation Using Nanomaterials

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) comprise various organic chemicals which are released as gases from different liquids or solids. The nature and impact of the health effects are dependent on the VOCs concentrations and, also, on the exposure time. VOCs are present in different household, industrial or commercial and products, but their accumulation in air and water has primarily gained attention. Among VOCs, trichloroethylene and vinyl chloride are the most toxic and carcinogenic compounds. In order to improve the indoor air and water quality, VOCs can be removed via efficient approaches involving nanomaterials, by using techniques such as adsorption, catalysis or photocatalysis. In the recent years, the development of manufacturing procedures, characterization techniques and testing processes has resulted in the growth of na-nomaterials obtaining and applications, creating great possibilities and also a tremendous prov-ocation in applying them for highly efficient VOCs removal. This review is intended to contrib-ute to the improvement of awareness and knowledge on the great potential that nanomaterials have in VOCs removal, in order a to improve indoor and outdoor environment, but also the worldwide water sources.

Editorial: Exploring impacts of combined exposures to particles and chemicals on immune reactions across living organisms

“…Eventually, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be released during manufacturing processes and are present in several products (paints, solvents, glues, gasoline) ( Alijagic et al ). While many VOCs are known respiratory irritants, some have also shown strong toxicity and carcinogenic potential ( He et al, 2015 ; David et al, 2021 ). Interaction of VOCs with nanomaterials can occur depending on the material chemical composition, surface charge, size, porosity; and nanomaterials have been used for adsorbing VOCs and also for reducing their toxicity by catalytic or photocatalytic actions ( Guerra et al, 2018 ; Attia et al, 2019 ; David et al, 2021 ).…”

“…While many VOCs are known respiratory irritants, some have also shown strong toxicity and carcinogenic potential ( He et al, 2015 ; David et al, 2021 ). Interaction of VOCs with nanomaterials can occur depending on the material chemical composition, surface charge, size, porosity; and nanomaterials have been used for adsorbing VOCs and also for reducing their toxicity by catalytic or photocatalytic actions ( Guerra et al, 2018 ; Attia et al, 2019 ; David et al, 2021 ). Thus, it is might be expected that the fortuitous interaction between VOCs and nanomaterials in the environment may lead to mitigation of VOC toxicity.…”

Visible light-activated photocatalytic activity of TiO2–crystal violet based superhydrophobic paint against VOCs in indoor air

“…VOCs are also responsible for indirect global warming by the generation of tropospheric oxidants such as ozone, degradation of ozone in the stratosphere, climate change, etc. 6,7 The sources and effects of VOCs studied in this article are listed in Table 1.…”

Preparation of high-performance activated carbons from hemicellulose pre-extracted residues of poplar and their application in VOCs removal

“…The VOCs are toxic and highly irritating. They are also important precursors of photochemical smog and cause great harm to the environment and human health (Enesca and Cazan 2020;David and Niculescu 2021). Adsorption is the most widely used VOC treatment technology at present (Zhang et al 2017).…”