Method validation by collaborative trial for the quantification of binary mixtures containing polyamide and a novel polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent fibre.

A method for the quantification of a novel polypropylene/polyamide bicomponent fibre in binary mixtures with polyamide was subjected to validation by collaborative trial conducted at European level. Considering the probable acceptance of the novel fibre in Europe, this method is needed for consumer protection to allow market surveillance and antifraud controls. The aim of the study was to extend the scope of application of method 11 of Directive 96/73/EC, based on the selective dissolution of one of the components in binary mixtures. The method foresaw sample treatment with 75 % m/m sulfuric acid at room temperature for a contact time of 1 h. In order to ensure accurate quantification of the blends under investigation, the washing procedure had to be modified with the addition of two rinsings of the residue with the reagent used for the dissolution. Following ISO 5725, a balanced uniform level test was performed on loop twisted carpet samples of three levels of concentration (25, 50 and 75 %, approximately) with the participation of seventeen European laboratories. The trueness was evaluated considering as reference values data obtained from manual separation of samples. The calculated bias varied from 0.06 to 0.49 %, rising with the increasing content of polyamide in the binary mixture. Repeatability and reproducibility limits were in the range 0.69 - 1.04 % and 0.97 - 1.87 %, respectively. In agreement with the members of the European Network of National Experts on Textile Labelling, the optimised method was judged fit-for-purpose and the reproducibility limit was established at 2 %. Based on this study, the scope of application of method 11 can be extended with the insertion of the novel fibre as the insoluble component (d factor 1.005) and polyamide as the soluble one, provided that the modifications are adopted.JRC.I.1-Chemical Assessment and Testin

Establishment of quantification methods for novel polypropylene/polyamide 6 - based bicomponent fibre in textile binary mixtures

This study was aimed at establishing quantification methods for binary mixtures containing a new polypropylene/polyamide 6 - based bicomponent fibre, for which a new generic fibre name has been requested to the European Commission. Application of such methods is requested by EU legislation (Directive 96/73/EC) to enable market surveillance regarding the textile composition data on labels that are compulsory. The methodology for quantification of fibre mixtures is usually based either on manual separation or on chemical dissolution methods. In both cases, a sample pre-treatment, able to remove non-fibrous material, is needed. The key experimental parameters that need to be established for the novel fibre are: its moisture regain in standard atmosphere (agreed allowance), its mass loss due to pre-treatment (b coefficient) and its mass losses in the methods where it is insoluble (d correction factors). Results of this study showed that the b coefficient for the new fibre, using the normal pre-treatment, is equal to 0 %. As expected from the chemical composition and synthetic character of the novel fibre, the experimental value for the agreed allowance was low and equal to 0.54 %. The new fibre was insoluble in ten out of the 14 dissolution methods tested and the correspondent ten d correction factors were evaluated. Three of them were also validated through a collaborative trial organised at European level following the internationally accepted guideline ISO 5725-2:1994. The d correction factors obtained throughout the study were in the range of 1.00-1.01, meaning that the fibre was completely insoluble or at maximum 1 % soluble in the dissolution reagent. Based on the results of this study, laboratories across the EU and beyond have now at their disposal methods to quantify the new fibre in binary mixtures with polyester, elastomultiester, polyamide, chlorofibres, certain acrylic and modacrylic fibres, acetate, triacetate, polylactide, certain cellulose fibres and certain protein fibres.JRC.I.1-Chemical Assessment and Testin

Assessment of indoor air quality in office buildings across Europe \u2013 The OFFICAIR study

The European project OFFICAIR aimed to broaden the existing knowledge regarding indoor air quality (IAQ) in modern office buildings, i.e., recently built or refurbished buildings. Thirty-seven office buildings participated in the summer campaign (2012), and thirty-five participated in the winter campaign (2012\ua0 12\ua02013). Four rooms were investigated per building. The target pollutants were twelve volatile organic compounds, seven aldehydes, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <\ua02.5\ua0\u3bcm (PM2.5). Compared to other studies in office buildings, the benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene concentrations were lower in OFFICAIR buildings, while the \u3b1-pinene and D-limonene concentrations were higher, and the aldehyde, nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5 concentrations were of the same order of magnitude. When comparing summer and winter, significantly higher concentrations were measured in summer for formaldehyde and ozone, and in winter for benzene, \u3b1-pinene, D-limonene, and nitrogen dioxide. The terpene and 2-ethylhexanol concentrations showed heterogeneity within buildings regardless of the season. Considering the average of the summer and winter concentrations, the acetaldehyde and hexanal concentrations tended to increase by 4\u20135% on average with every floor level increase, and the nitrogen dioxide concentration tended to decrease by 3% on average with every floor level increase. A preliminary evaluation of IAQ in terms of potential irritative and respiratory health effects was performed. The 5-day median and maximum indoor air concentrations of formaldehyde and ozone did not exceed their respective WHO air quality guidelines, and those of acrolein, \u3b1-pinene, and D-limonene were lower than their estimated thresholds for irritative and respiratory effects. PM2.5 indoor concentrations were higher than the 24-h and annual WHO ambient air quality guidelines