[verbatim]

Hello,

I was tasked with the question, "What is the VHAP of toluene?"

A VHAP is a volatile hazardous air pollutant. Many municipal regulations say businesses cannot exceed X tons of VOC (volatile organic compound) or X tons of VHAP per year.

I had recently been given this formula to calculate VHAP content and did okay with some chemical mixtures:

VHAP in "pounds per pounds solids" = VHAPs per 1.0 lb. of solid (found on the Technical Data Sheet) * Total weight of solids per gallon used

Total weight of solids per gallon used = Total weight of adhesive used* Percent solids by weight (found on the TDS)

Total weight of adhesive used = Density * number of gallons used (density found on TDS)

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So my question deals with toluene. While many substances are just mixtures with only a percentage of its contents being volatile, toluene is 100% toluene.. I can't find a technical data sheet or safety data sheet for toluene that lists VHAP, VOC, or % solids. This is probably because toluene IS a VHAP that is 100% toluene. Despite being liquid, toluene's "percent solids" would just be 100%, right?

So in a 55 gallon drum of toluene, the weight of the drum on the shipping label should be both the VHAP and the VOC content for it.

The person who asked the question did not agree and neither of us is sure. How can I.. become more sure so I can take this off my to-do list?


Reference:

My toluene calculation:

VHAP=vhap per pound * weight of solids
=1 * weight of solids
=weight of solids
=weight of adhesive used * percent solids [EDIT: replace "adhesive" with "solvent" or maybe "substance"]
=weight of adhesive used * 1.00
=weight of adhesive used
=density * number of gallons used
=0.866 g/cm^3 * let's say 1 gallon
=(0.866 g/cm^3 / 1) * (8.35 lb./gal. / 1 g/cm^3) * 1 gallon
=7.23 lb.gal. of VHAP (the final weight in lbs. I calculated was really close but a little higher than what I calculated)[EDIT: what was on the shipping label was slightly higher than my answer]

stuff about doing the calculations and why I think I'm right:  1http://www.aqmd.gov/home/regulations/compliance/vocs/calculations
2https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/AP_A-Simple-Guide-to-Calculating-Your-VOC-and-HAP.pdf
3http://tbfenvironmental.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Advantages-of-ZemaSol-over-xylenetoluenepcbtftbac16nov15.pdf

a tds and sds on toluene
http://www.zaryachem.com/uploads/imageOriginal/0/151.pdf
http://www.smct.com.tw/english/about/products_sds_tol_en_2008.pdf


Thank you. This forum seems really cool.

[Borek]

Hard to say without seeing the exact definition of VHAP (which I wasn't able to find; not that I tried really hard), but my gut feeling is that your approach (just the weight of toluene) is the right one.

However, these are governmental regulations, logic nor common reason don't apply.