Adsorption and Desorption of Pollutants to and from Indoor Surfaces

Abstract

Adsorption and desorption of indoor air pollutants to and from indoor surfaces are important phenomena. Often called sink effects, these processes can have a major impact on the concentration of pollutants in indoor environments and on the exposure of human occupants to indoor air pollutants. Basic theories are used to describe the processes using fundamental equations. These equations lead to models describing sink effects in indoor environments. Experimental studies have been performed to determine the important parameters of the sink models. Studies conducted in dynamic, flow-through environmental test chambers have quantified adsorption and desorption rates for many combinations of indoor air pollutants and interior surfaces. Sink effects have been incorporated into indoor air quality (IAQ) models to predict how adsorption and desorption processes affect concentrations of indoor pollutants. Limited numbers of full-scale, test house studies have been conducted to provide validation data for IAQ models in order to improve their accuracy. IAQ model predictions are useful for analyzing the interaction of indoor sources and sinks and their effect on human exposure to indoor air pollutants.