Removal of Volatile Organic Compounds from Bulk and Emulsion Polymers: A Comprehensive Survey of the Existing Techniques

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are mostly toxic and hazardous substances that generally have a strong odor and can cause health and environmental problems. It is thus of upmost importance for the polymer manufacturing industry to eliminate these volatiles from the synthesized polymers. The properties and the application of the polymer, as well as the nature and the concentration of volatiles, govern the choice of the most appropriate elimination technique to avoid any modification or degradation of the polymer. In this review, we take stock of the most suitable purification methods currently used to remove VOCs from polymers in bulk and in emulsion with particular emphasis on the equipment and experimental requirements for each method, as well as the theoretical considerations that motivate the use of the method. In addition to conventional techniques, we are also presenting our efforts to identify potentially promising alternatives for reducing the VOC content from polymers.