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Volatile Organic Compounds from Unexpected Sources: Fabric Softener-Initiated Emissions
Author(s)
Chatsuvan, Thabtim
Homwuttiwong, Sahalaph
Morris, John
Ongwandee, Maneerat
Date Issued
January 1, 2022
Type
Article
Abstract
A fabric softener is usually applied to laundry during a rinse stage. It is composed of surfactants, solvents and others, which can escape into the air and cause adverse effects. Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from fabrics conditioned with liquid fabric softener were measured and compared with those unconditioned and conditioned with water. Undyed, naturally-and chemically-dyed silks, cotton, polyester, Tetron cotton (T/C) and rayon fabrics were tested. The test fabrics were cut into 15×40 mm rectangles and equilibrated for 24 hr at 30 °C in 20 ml vials. The emitted VOCs in the vial air were sampled, using a solid phase microextraction technique and then analyzed by a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. Alkanes and toluene were mostly detected from the unconditioned fabrics. Toluene was emitted from machine woven fabrics – cotton, polyester, T/C and rayon-but not detected in the hand-woven silk. The fabrics emitted total VOCs per unit projected surface area in the range of 1-9 µg/m2 as toluene equivalent. Water-washing reduced emissions by 4-55%, whereas the fabric softener treatment increased emissions by 10-163% from the water-treated ones, except for the undyed silk. The most commonly emitted VOCs, from the fabrics treated with the fabric softener, were ethyl 2-methyl butyrate, nonanal, d-limonene and eucalyptol – compounds used to enhance fragrance. This demonstrated that fabric softeners contribute to the release of several VOCs mixtures that did not originate from the fabric itself.
Citation
Environmentasia, 15(1), 131-141, 2022