Method of Lacquer Products on Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of lacquer product application methods used in the furniture industry on emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The air samples for analyses came from three industrial plants, located in Poland, producing case furniture. In each of these plants, the fi nishing process was performed using waterborne lacquer products, but using different types of lacquer application machines and devices: automated finishing lines, automated vertical spray machines, a curtain coater and classical pneumatic spray guns. The compounds found in the air collected for analyses were adsorbed on a Tenax TA synthetic sorbent. The volatile compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry and thermal desorption. The results showed differences in the amounts of identified compounds depending on the type of the used lacquer application machine. It was found out that the use of automated finishing lines for lacquering of furniture elements does not only lead to an increase in the efficiency of the process, but also results in a reduction of pollution in the production halls.