Microorganisms are able to produce a wide variety of volatile organic compounds. This thesis deals with sampling, analysis and identification of such compounds, produced by microorganisms commonly found in buildings. The volatiles were sampled on adsorbents and analysed by thermal desorption cold trap-injection gas chromatography, with flame ionization and mass-spectrometric detection. The injection was optimized, with respect to the recovery of adsorbed components and the efficiency of the chromatographic separation, using multivariate methods. Eight adsorbents were evaluated with the object of finding the most suitable for sampling microbial volatiles. Among the adsorbents tested, Tenax TA proved to have the best properties for the purpose. Some carbon-containing adsorbents, e.g., Tenax GR and Carbopack B, showed a catalytic effect on thermal decomposition of some compounds, mainly terpene derivatives. Five fungal species, Aspergillus versicolor, Pénicillium commune, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Paecilomyces variotii and Phialophora fastigiata, and anactinomycete, Streptomyces albidoflavus, were cultivated on various artificial media and/or building materials. Cultivation was performed in culture flasks, provided with air inlet and outlet tubes. Humidified air was constantly led through the flasks, and samples were taken by attaching adsorbent tubes to the outlet tubes of the flasks. The cultivation medium proved to be of vital importance for metabolite production, quantitatively as well as qualitatively. For Streptomyces albidoflavus the effect of medium, cultivation temperature, and oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the supplied air on the production of volatiles, was studied using multivariate techniques. The medium and the temperature exerted the largest influence, but the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels also affected the amounts of some metabolites produced. The produced volatile metabolites were identified by mass spectrometry and reference compounds. Alcohols, ketones, sulphur compounds and terpenes were most frequently found, but hydrocarbons, ethers and esters were also produced by some species. Among the most commonly produced metabolites, which are also suggested as potential indicator substances for excessive growth of microorganisms in buildings, were 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-2-butanone, 3-methyl-2-pentanone, dimethyl disulphide, -methylfuran, 2,5-dimethylfuran and geosmin. / <p>Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 1995, härtill 5 uppsatser.</p> / digitalisering@umu

In this thesis the oxidation of monoterpenes by O3 and NO2 and factors that influenced the oxidation were studied. In the environment both ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are present as oxidising gases, which causes sampling artefacts when using Tenax TA as an adsorbent to sample organic compounds in the air. A scrubber was developed to remove O3 and NO2 prior to the sampling tube, and artefacts during sampling were minimised when using the scrubber. The main organic compounds sampled in this thesis were two monoterpenes, alfa-pinene and delta-3-carene, due to their presence in both indoor and outdoor air. The recovery of the monoterpenes through the scrubber varied between 75-97% at relative humidities of 15-75%. The reactions of alfa-pinene and delta-3-carene with O 3, NO2 and nitric oxide (NO) at different relative humidities (RHs) and reaction times were studied in a dark reaction chamber. The experiments were planned and performed according to an experimental design were the factors influencing the reaction (O3, NO2, NO, RH and reaction times) were varied between high and low levels. In the experiments up to 13% of the monoterpenes reacted when O3, NO2, and reaction time were at high levels, and NO, and RH were at low levels. In the evaluation eight and seven factors (including both single and interaction factors) were found to influence the amount of alfa-pinene and delta-3-carene reacted, respectively. The three most influencing factors for both of the monoterpenes were the O 3 level, the reaction time, and the RH. Increased O3 level and reaction time increased the amount of monoterpene reacted, and increased RH decreased the amount reacted. A theoretical model of the reactions occurring in the reaction chamber was created. The amount of monoterpene reacted at different initial settings of O3, NO2, and NO were calculated, as well as the influence of different reaction pathways, and the concentrations of O3 and NO2, and NO at specific reaction times. The results of the theoretical model were that the reactivity of the gas mixture towards alfa-pinene and delta-3-carene was underestimated. But, the calculated concentrations of O3, NO2, and NO in the theoretical model were found to correspond to a high degree with experimental results performed under similar conditions. The possible associations between organic compounds in indoor air, building variables and the presence of sick building syndrome were studied using principal component analysis. The most complex model was able to separate 71% of the “sick” buildings from the “healthy” buildings. The most important variables that separated the “sick” buildings from the “healthy” buildings were a more frequent occurrence or a higher concentration of compounds with shorter retention times in the “sick” buildings. The outcome of this thesis could be summarised as follows; - - - -

<p>In this thesis the oxidation of monoterpenes by O3 and NO2 and factors that influenced the oxidation were studied. In the environment both ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are present as oxidising gases, which causes sampling artefacts when using Tenax TA as an adsorbent to sample organic compounds in the air. A scrubber was developed to remove O3 and NO2 prior to the sampling tube, and artefacts during sampling were minimised when using the scrubber. The main organic compounds sampled in this thesis were two monoterpenes, alfa-pinene and delta-3-carene, due to their presence in both indoor and outdoor air. The recovery of the monoterpenes through the scrubber varied between 75-97% at relative humidities of 15-75%.</p><p>The reactions of alfa-pinene and delta-3-carene with O 3, NO2 and nitric oxide (NO) at different relative humidities (RHs) and reaction times were studied in a dark reaction chamber. The experiments were planned and performed according to an experimental design were the factors influencing the reaction (O3, NO2, NO, RH and reaction times) were varied between high and low levels. In the experiments up to 13% of the monoterpenes reacted when O3, NO2, and reaction time were at high levels, and NO, and RH were at low levels. In the evaluation eight and seven factors (including both single and interaction factors) were found to influence the amount of alfa-pinene and delta-3-carene reacted, respectively. The three most influencing factors for both of the monoterpenes were the O 3 level, the reaction time, and the RH. Increased O3 level and reaction time increased the amount of monoterpene reacted, and increased RH decreased the amount reacted.</p><p>A theoretical model of the reactions occurring in the reaction chamber was created. The amount of monoterpene reacted at different initial settings of O3, NO2, and NO were calculated, as well as the influence of different reaction pathways, and the concentrations of O3 and NO2, and NO at specific reaction times. The results of the theoretical model were that the reactivity of the gas mixture towards alfa-pinene and delta-3-carene was underestimated. But, the calculated concentrations of O3, NO2, and NO in the theoretical model were found to correspond to a high degree with experimental results performed under similar conditions. The possible associations between organic compounds in indoor air, building variables and the presence of sick building syndrome were studied using principal component analysis. The most complex model was able to separate 71% of the “sick” buildings from the “healthy” buildings. The most important variables that separated the “sick” buildings from the “healthy” buildings were a more frequent occurrence or a higher concentration of compounds with shorter retention times in the “sick” buildings.</p><p>The outcome of this thesis could be summarised as follows;</p><p>-</p><p>-</p><p>-</p><p>-</p>