Lumped parameter model for predicting the sink effect of volatile organic compounds in indoor environment

A lumped parameter model describes the concentration of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in indoor environments taking into account the sink effect (adsorption and desorption of pollutants due to the surfaces). The concentration of a pollutant is calculated by solving a dimensionless mass balance equation in a room where there are VOC sources, a ventilation system and adsorbing/desorbing surfaces. Adsorption and desorption are supposed to act independently and the sink effect is supposed to be a diffusion process, typically described by exponential functions. In order to validate the model, concentration data taken from the literature are used. These data refer to experiments in a text chamber where different adsorbing materials are exposed to constant emissions of a pollutant.