Diurnal Study of VOCs in Raipur, Chhattisgarh

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play an important role in the generation of O₃ and other reactive chemicals in the atmosphere. Anthropogenic emission of VOCs has greatly increased due to growing consumption of fossil fuels and related activities. The concentration of 12 light, C₂-C₈ VOCs in ambient air of the most industrialized area, Raipur, was measured. The sampling frequency was once in a week at sites: Raipur, (R. S. University campus), for one year, April, 2006 - March, 2007. For diuranal study per hour samples were collected. Twelve VOCs species i.e. C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₆, C₃H₈, i-C₄H₁₀, n-C₄H₁₀, i-C₅H₁₂, n-C₅H₁₂, C₆H₆, CH₃.C₆H₅ and CH₃.C₆H₄.CH₃ were monitored by technique: gas chromatography equipped with FID and PID detector and the purge and trap probe were used The mass distribution of ∑₁₂VOCs at site: Raipur, was ranged 48.7 - 171, μg m-3 with mean value of 102.2 ± 8.6, 135. μg m-3,. Among twelve VOCs, three species: C₃H₈, C₄H₁₀ and C₅H₁₂ exhibited the highest mass distribution, and accounted > 55% fraction of the total VOCs.