Browsing by Author "Perera, SAS"

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item: Conference-Abstract
Acheap and environmentally friendly process to manufacture caustic soda
(Engineering Research Unit, Faculty of Engiennring, University of Moratuwa, 1995-03) Perera, SAS; Dias, WPS
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Conversion of coconut water waste produced in desiccated coconut mills into liquid organic fertiliser using Delta-D Technology
Perera, SAS
The Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera), a member of the family Arecaceae (palm family), is a large palm, that can grow up to 30 m height, with pinnate leaves 4-6 m long and pinnae 60-90 em long. The term coconut refers to the nut of the coconut palm. The coconut palm is grown throughout the tropicalworld, for its many culinary and non-culinary uses, since, every part of the coconut palm has some human uses. The coconut comprises, a fibrous husk and a hard shell. The shell contains a white kernel and coconut water. The kernel is mainly used, for culinary purposes, as well as, to produce, copra, coconut oil, coconut cream, brushes, brooms and carpets, while, the shell is used to manufacture charcoal, activated carbon and to produce thermal energy by combustion.
item: Conference-Abstract
Conversion of textile industry effluent treatment plant sludge into a valuable organic fertilizer using Delta-D technology
(2017) Perera, SAS; Aadhil, MFHM; Gunaratne, KKDIK; Dananjina, , A.M.U.
Sludge generated in Central Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) in industrial zones consisting of textile manufacturing, dying, finishing and garment washing has to be disposed of by the manufacturers. The current practice in Sri Lanka is to dispose the sludge by transporting it to a cement plant and incinerate it in a rotary kiln at a temperature lf around 1500°C. This is a costly solution due to the high transportation cost and rotary kiln incineration charges. At the request of a CETP owned and operated by a highly reputed company in Sri Lanka, research was carried out to convert CETP sludge into a nutrient rich, slow releasing, and organic rich fertilizer by rapid digestion of the CETP sludge using Delta-D technology. Delta-D Technology is a patented process invented by Prof. S.A.S. Perera, Professor in Chemical and Process Engineering of the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Based on test results, it can be concluded that the final product is acceptable as an organic fertilizer and the conversion process could be implemented as a cheap and sustainable solution to the disposal of CETP sludge.
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Delta-d technology - a green solution to unsorted urban solid waste (USW) disposal problems in Sri Lanka
(2013-11-11) Perera, SAS
The terms “green” and “green technology” are used to highlight environmental conservation or minimal adverse impact on the environment. In this context, a green building could be defined as one, which has been designed, constructed and operated, ensuring, minimal adverse impact on the environment. Most modern green buildings are able to satisfy the term “green”, in respect of construction materials, construction technologies, energy efficient building operations and maintenance procedures. However, solid waste (SW) disposal methods used in many buildings cannot be termed as green, due to the use of several non green operations, such as, non segregation of SW, transport of SW over long distances and the disposal of SW into open dumps, resulting in; soil, water and air pollution; breeding of disease causing insects, pests and microorganisms; emission of greenhouse gases, such as, CO2 and CH4 due to aerobic and anaerobic micro-organic activity in solid waste dumps This paper describes, Delta-D Technology, a process invented and patented by the author, that can rapidly digest and convert all types of organic waste (OW) in unsorted urban solid waste (USW) into mineral rich organic fertilizer (OF), thereby, giving a green solution to USW disposal problems in buildings. The main advantages of Delta-D Technology are, automatic separation of recyclables from non-recyclables, rapid digestion of OW within 1 day, disinfection of OW so that there is no breeding of microorganisms, insects or pests, no bad odour and final conversion into a mineral rich organic fertiliser powder, that can be used for domestic agriculture or sold for cash, thereby making the Delta-D Technology Based USW Disposal Process an income earner. The high cost of transport of USW to open dumps and the emission of large quantities of CO2 from garbage trucks are also eliminated due to this technology. Furthermore, emissions of malodorous gases, as well as, greenhouse gases CO2 and CH4 in garbage dumps can be completely eliminated by this technology.
item: Conference-Extended-Abstract
Design of a high performance impeller for solid liquid mixing in low viscosity systems
(2002) Perera, SAS; Hatharasinghe, RC
Mixing impellers are used to dissolve solutes in solvents, disperse solids in liquids and emulsify immiscible liquids. A system that needs mixing can be classified as a low viscosity system, a medium viscosity system or a high viscosity system, depending on the viscosity of the final product. Dissolution of salt (NaCl) in water to obtain a saturated solution, can be called a low viscosity system, while, the dispersion of fine particles of solids such as pigments, extenders and fillers in a liquid to produce a paint can be called a high viscosity system. Likewise, the dispersion of a solid in a liquid to obtain slurry may be called a medium viscosity system.
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Developing a technological process to weave cotton fabrics on water jet loom
(IEEE, 2016-05) Prasanna, MAAU; Senanayake, SS; Wijesinghe, SAKP; Fernando, EASK; Perera, SAS; Jayasekara, AGBP; Bandara, HMND; Amarasinghe, YWR
Water jet looms are widely used in woven fabric manufacturing especially for synthetic fabric production. Due to massive growth in synthetic fabric production, the significance of the water jet loom becomes dominant Due to its salient features such as high production speed, low energy consumption, low noise emission, and simple maintenance procedures as compared to other loom counterparts. The major drawback of the water jet loom is its inability to produce cellulosic based fabric such as cotton because cotton yarns absorb considerably higher amount of water during weft insertion and as a result it does not properly insert through the warp sheet. Air jet weaving machine is ideal to produce cellulose based fabrics. However, air jet looms lacks in the above advantages possessed by water jet looms. For a sustainable development in the weaving industry and a competitive edge in weaving, it is mandatory to have minimum energy consumption when producing cellulose based fabrics. So, it is prudent to explore the possibility of weaving cellulosic based fabrics on a water jet loom. Hence, the authors attempted to develop an appropriate technological process to achieve this. A non-absorbent cotton yarn was developed and a water jet loom was modified in order to successfully produce cotton based fabrics on a water jet loom.
item: Conference-Full-text
Development of a Multi-Nutrient Fertilizer from Liquid Waste of Solar Salt Manufacturing Process
(2015-08-03) Perera, SAS; Wasalathilake, KC; Wijayarathne, UPL; Vidanage, PW
Magnesium plays a key role in the growth of a plant by acting as the central atom of the chlorophyll molecule. This study is carried out to develop a low-cost multi-nutrient fertilizer by utilizing the bittern solution. This fertilizer is capable of fulfilling the Magnesium, Potassium and Calcium requirement of a plant effectively. A dilution series of bittern was prepared, and a series of tests was carried out to demonstrate the importance of multi-nutrient fertilizer to the growth of a plant. This fertilizer contains 1.27%, 0.31% and 0.01% of highly water soluble Magnesium, Potassium and Calcium respectively to cater the short term requirement of a plant. Developing an indigenous source of supply for fertilizer is important both for the agricultural and strategic reasons. The major drawback of conventional salt production has been overcome by using bittern to produce a multi-nutrient source for plants. It could also mitigate negative environmental impacts by successfully controlling pollutant discharge. Therefore, this novel process can be considered as a comprehensive solution towards sustainable development.
item: Conference-Abstract
Development of a multi-nutrient fertilizer from liquid waste of solar salt manufacturing process
Perera, SAS; Wasalathilake, KC; Wijayarathne, UPL; Vidanage, PW
Magnesium plays a key role in the growth of a plant by acting as the central atom of the chlorophyll molecule. This study is carried out to develop a low-cost multi-nutrient fertilizer by utilizing the bittern solution. This fertilizer is capable of fulfilling the Magnesium, Potassium and Calcium requirement of a plant effectively. A dilution series of bittern was prepared, and a series of tests was carried out to demonstrate the importance of multi-nutrient fertilizer to the growth of a plant. This fertilizer contains 1.27%, 0.31% and 0.01% of highly water soluble Magnesium, Potassium and Calcium respectively to cater the short term requirement of a plant. Developing an indigenous source of supply for fertilizer is important both for the agricultural and strategic reasons. The major drawback of conventional salt production has been overcome by using bittern to produce a multi-nutrient source for plants. It could also mitigate negative environmental impacts by successfully controlling pollutant discharge. Therefore, this novel process can be considered as a comprehensive solution towards sustainable development.
item: Conference-Full-text
Effect of the Activities Inside a Hospital Theatre of its IAQ
(2016-05-26) Gunaratne, WDSP; Gunatilake, MMDV; Jayasinghe, C; Madushanka, HKR; Perera, TM; Perera, SAS; Rajapaksa, S
A close relationship can be observed between the building performance and the activities associated with the building. Since those activities have a great impact on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) of the building, it is necessary to consider the activities that would take place inside a building, at its design stage. In this research study, the effect of the activities associated with a hospital theatre, on its IAQ has been studied since the theatre staff of a leading hospital in Sri Lanka, experience some discomfort while being inside the theatre. In order to evaluate this, variation of Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) and Particulate Matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) concentrations inside the theatre were measured and analysed. Significant variations were observed in the concentrations of CO2, TVOC and CO inside the operation theatre. CO2 concentration inside the room increased at the beginning and end of the surgeries due to high occupant density and also during Laparoscopic surgeries. TVOC concentration was affected by the usage of different chemicals during the surgery. Major effect to the CO concentration was by Diathermy.
item: Conference-Full-text
The Effect of ventilation on sick building syndrome
(2013-12-06) Kumara, S; Rajapaksa, SW; Perera, SAS; Jayasinghe, C
It is well known that adverse health conditions could develop due to outdoor air pollutants, such as, CO2, CO, SO2, NO2, PM (particulate matter), VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), when people are outdoors, while travelling or working. Since most of the people spend 80-90% of their time indoors, at home or place of work, the presence of these air pollutants could adversely their health while indoors, as well. Hence, minimizing the presence of air pollutants, by taking appropriate measures, such as, ventilation and air conditioning are important to ensure that a healthy atmosphere prevails indoors. In a work place, where a large number of people work within a confined space, CO2 produced due to human respiration gets accumulated in the air, unless there is good ventilation. Long exposure to higher CO2 concentrations can cause human discomfort and ill health. The CO2 concentration, if measured, can be a direct indication of the efficiency of the ventilation system of the building. This paper presents a detailed study on how building planning aspects can affect the indoor environment of a building. The main factor considered was the CO 2 concentration in relation to the ventilation design of the building. In the study, CO2 concentration was measured and related to the ventilation design of the space in both free running and air conditioned buildings. The main findings of the study are as follows. a) Planning aspects of building were found to be very important in minimizing the bad effects of air pollutants. b) Provision of openings, based on external wind directions and orientation of the building were important, to dilute and remove high internal air pollutant concentrations by natural air currents. c) Provision of openings in excess of what is provided in the building regulations was found to improve the ventilation system in a free running building. d) The efficient operation of the natural ventilation system was as important as the ventilation design.
item: Conference-Abstract
The Effect of ventilation on sick building syndrome
(2016-08-10) Kumara, S; Rajapaksa, SW; Perera, SAS; Jayasinghe, C
It is well known that adverse health conditions could develop due to outdoor air pollutants, such as, C02, CO, S02, NO,, PM (particulate matter), VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), when people are outdoors, while travelling or working. Since most of the people spend 80-90% of their time indoors, at home or place of work, the presence of these air pollutants could adversely their health while indoors, as well. Hence, minimizing the presence of air pollutants, by taking appropriate measures, such as, ventilation and air conditioning are important to ensure that a healthy atmosphere prevails indoors. In a work place, where a large number of people work within a confined space, C02 produced due to human respiration gets accumulated in the air, unless there is good ventilation. Long exposure to higher C02 concentrations can cause human discomfort and ill health. The C02 concentration, if measured, can be a direct indication of the efficiency of the ventilation system of the building. This paper presents a detailed study on how building planning aspects can affect the indoor environment of a building. The main factor considered was the CO 2 concentration in relation to the ventilation design of the building. In the study, C02 concentration was measured and related to the ventilation design of the space in both free running and air conditioned buildings. The main findings of the study are as follows. a) Planning aspects of building were found to be very important in minimizing the bad effects of air pollutants. b) Provision of openings, based on external wind directions and orientation of the building were important, to dilute and remove high internal air pollutant concentrations by natural air currents. c) Provision of opehings in excess of what is provided in the building regulations was found to improve the ventilation system in a free running building. d) The efficient operation of the natural ventilation system was as important as the ventilation design.
item: Conference-Full-text
Indoor air quality and human activities in buildings
(2013-11-09) Perera, TM; Jayasinghe, C; Perera, SAS; Rajapaksa, SW
People spend most of their time indoors either at home or at work. If the indoor environment is polluted, the occupants may experience number of possible health conditions such as sneezing, fatigue, headache, dizziness, nausea, irritability, and respiratory diseases as asthma. Also, long term exposure into the pollutants can cause more serious health effects. Therefore it is very important to maintain a high degree of hygienic level in all our buildings by achieving a proper design and maintaining an adequate ventilation system in the indoor environment. There are different types of ventilation that can be used in the indoor environment such as free running systems by opening windows and doors, fans and air conditioners. But due to the poor operational practices in the modern buildings such as restricting free ventilation by closing doors and windows in most of the time and no proper maintenance in the air conditioning system may pollute the indoor environment. Therefore numerous forms of indoor air pollution are possible in the modern buildings. In this paper, recent research is revised on effect of air freshener and tobacco smoke on indoor environment with modern operational practices.
item: Conference-Abstract
International Conference on Structural Engineering and Construction Management
(2015-05-19) Jayasinghe, C; Perera, TM; Perera, SAS
A deployable structure should mainly be adequately compact and should fit into any remaining space of the launch vehicle. The main factors which will determine these are the folding pattern,ease of deployment and stresses in the fold lines. Two folding patterns are selected based on extensive literature review to investigate the possibility of using those techniques for a large solar sail mission. It is expensive as well as extremely time consuming to perform experimental investigation under reduced gravity environment for this type of large membranes. Thus developing simulating techniques are quite important. Two models are simulated using Abaqus/Explicit commercial finite element software. Quasi-static conditions and numerical accuracy are verified by comparing strain energy together with kinetic energy and artificial strain energy. It is shown that spiral folding pattern requires less energy for deployment and hence that is preferred.
item: Conference-Full-text
Is anaerobic digestion of municipal garbage to produce biogas economically feasible ?
(2001) Perera, SAS
The problem of collecting, transporting and disposal of market and domestic garbage is probably the greatest problem confronted by many municipalities and local authorities. The dumping of garbage in solid waste dumps without proper evaluation of the environmental and health hazards of such dumps has lead to protests by the public and many environmentalists. Moreover, such dumps, while causing major environmental and health problems to the people living within close proximity, have ruined the landscape and the aesthetic beauty of the land. They have become the breeding grounds for cats, dogs, rats, reptiles, insects, mosquitoes and flies, too. Safe and efficient collection, transport and disposal of garbage has been the subject of many seminars, conferences and workshops. There are many diverse views on what process is the best, to dispose garbage. Anaerobic digestion of municipal garbage to produce biogas, has been mooted as the solution to the municipal garbage problem in Sri Lanka, by many engineers and scientists. However, the technical and economical feasibility of biogas manufacture from municipal garbage, has yet to be properly established, by those who have done research and development work in this area. This paper critically evaluates the NHRDC (National Engineering Research and Development Centre) Dry Batch Biogas Syatem, which has been described by the NERDC as a better system for biogas production than the Chinese and Indian biogas systems. The paper also presents data and appropriate scientific calculations, which leads to the conclusion that anaerobic digestion of garbage to produce biogas by dry batch technology, is not economically feasible, and recommends that further capital investment should not be made, either by the government sector or by the private sector to establish new biogas plants, using this system.
item: Conference-Abstract
Manufacture of bioethanol from vegetable and fruit Wwe In Sri Lanka
Perera, SAS
According to statistics more than 40% of vegetables and fruits get wasted in Sri Lanka due to poor packing, handling, transport, storage and the high prices of vegetables and fruits, leading to reduced demands and longer storage times, which results in a high percentage perishing before they are sold to the final consumer. There are fruit and vegetable markets in all the major cities in Sri Lanka, which generate thousands of tons of vegetable and fruit market waste (VFMW) every day, causing major solid waste problems in these cities. The Local authorities dispose VFMW on valuable commercial land, which are converted into open dumps, causing soil, water and air pollution, as well as, bad smell, spread of disease, breeding of insects and pests. The main objective of the project was to find an environmentally, technically and economically feasible solution to the VFMW problem faced by all the major cities in Sri Lanka, by conversion of VFMW into Bio-Ethanol (BE). Fuel Ethanol (FE) is 99% pure Ethanol with a very small water content. FE can be blended with gasoline in the ratio 10-20 volume parts of FE to 90-80 volume parts of gasoline, without phase separation. Moreover, FE blended gasoline can be directly used as fuel in gasoline vehicles without any modifications to their engines. FE is currently manufactured in various parts of the world with readily fermentable agriculture based carbohydrate sources, such as, sugarcane, tapioca, wheat, com, etc. Although there are technologies to manufacture of FE from wood by hydrolysis of cellulose, these echnologies are still not commercialized. Since, agriculture based raw materials and their processing costs are much higher than naturally occurring raw materials, such as, crude oil and coal, the cost of production of FE is much higher than traditional fuels such as, gasoline, diesel, etc. In most of the countries that are producing FE, such as Brazil, heavy subsidies are given by the government to sustain the FE industry, since FE is a renewable source of energy, whereas, crude oil and coal are nonrenewable and the reserves in the world are rapidly depleting. Although considerable advances have been made in the manufacture of FE in the world, literature surveys do not indicate any significant research with respect to manufacture of FE from VFMW. Hence, laboratory scale research was carried out by the authors of this paper to study the possibility of manufacturing FE by fermentation of VFMW followed by distillation. Results showed that the process is technically and economically feasible, since, VFMW can be obtained at zero cost, compared to the high cost of traditional agricultural raw materials. Based on lab research and appropriate calculations, it was found that the cost of production of FE was around Rs.28.00 per litre. The fact that, the selling price of gasoline in Sri Lanka is Rs. 104.00 per litre (May 2007 price) and lO-20% of FE can be added to gasoline clearly indicates that there is a substantial profit margin available to entrepreneurs who wish to invest on a FE plant using VFMW as the main raw material. Apart from being technically and economically viable,manufacture of FE from VFMW will be extremely environment friendly, since, it will minimize 1502 56 pollution of air, water and land and also have a zero carbon dioxide emission (compared to crude oil and coal based systems which have a net carbon dioxide emission of 3 tons per ton of fuel burnt), thereby earning carbon credits to Sri Lanka, that can be converted into valuable foreign exchange through international carbon trading.
item: Conference-Abstract
Manufacture of epsom salt from sea bitterns
(2007) Perera, SAS
Large quant it ies of Epsom Salt (MgS04.7H20) and Kiesserite (MgS04.H20) are imported to Sri Lanka, ~IS fertilisers, for the cultivation of annual crops, such as cereals, fruits and vegetables and for the cultivation of perennial crops, such as tea, rubber and coconut. The element Mg is essential to all types of plants since it is required to produce chlorophyl, the green colour pigment in leaves, which absorbs solar radiation to energise photosynthesis reactions that produce carbohydrates by combining carbon dioxide and water. Mg is also required for metabolism and bioenergetics of a plant
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Manufacture of fuel ethanol from vegetable and fruit market waste
(2007) Perera, SAS; Perera, MAS; Ratnasinghe, RMCG; Perera, DHN; Mahawatta, DCG; Mahesh, KWC; Walliwala, SG
In Sri Lanka, due to inappropriate packing, handling, transport, storage and poor, marketing strategies adopted by farmers, distributors and sellers, more than 40% of vegetables and fruits get spoilt and are thrown out as Vegetable and Fruit Market Waste (VFMW), Local authorities dispose the VFMW on valuable commercial land, which are converted into open dumps, causing soil, water and air pollution, as well as, bad smell, spread of disease, breeding of insects and pests.
item: Conference-Abstract
Manufacture of organic fertiliser from poultry slaughterhouse waste rendering plant sludge using Delta-D technology
(2016-08-10) Perera, SAS
Poultry slaughterhouse waste (PSHW) consists of, blood, feathers and other body parts of chicken (broilers) that cannot be sold or used for value addition. A few years back, this waste caused major disposal problems in broiler farms in Sri Lanka. The most popular disposal method that was adopted was to dump the waste in underground waste dumps, away from human settlements and water bodies. The highly nutritious, high protein high nitrogen, high phosphorous, leachate of these underground waste dumps caused pollution of soil and ground water and the surface runoffs sometimes polluted surface water bodies, such as rivers and lakes. With environmental laws becoming more and more stringent and the authorities becoming more forceful, most of the major chicken producers have installed Waste Rendering Plants (WRP), which convert PSHW into high protein poultry feed. However, WRPs have not been able reduce waste to zero, since, after separation of the solids as feed to WRP, there is a liquid effluent that has to be treated. Prior to sending this liquid effluent to activated sludge treatment plants, the suspended solids are skimmed out in Settling Tanks and Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) Tanks and are called the Rendering Plant Sludge (RPS). RPS has around 30% solids and 70% water and cannot be composted or biologically treated due to its high fat content, which is more than, 10% on a wet basis and 33% on a dry basis. RPS cannot be incinerated too, due to the very high moisture content. Due to this difficulty, RPS is buried in lined underground waste dumps. The author undertook a research project, to convert RPS into organic fertilizer, using Delta-D Technology, for a leading broiler chicken producer, Nelna Farms, in Hanwella, in the Western Province of Sri Lanka in August, 2007. After appropriate laboratory research, a method was developed to digest the organic components in RPS, such as, collagen, fat and protein using the digestive fluid Delta-D, mixing with saw dust or agricultural waste to enhance the Carbon:Nitrogen Ratio to around 30:1 and finally neutralizing the mass with powdered dolomite and rock phosphate. The organic fertilizer produced was tested for around 1 year by applying to flowering plants, vegetables plots and tender and mature fruit plants and the yields were extremely satisfactory. In November 2008, the author carried out a demonstration on the process of manufacture at the Nelna Factory, in the presence of the Plant Manager (PM) and his staff and around 100 kg of organic fertilizer produced at the demonstration were handed over to PM for testing. The fertilizer was tested for around 1 year and in December 2008, the PM informed the author that Nelna Farms are planning to establish a plant to convert RPS into Organic Fertiliser using Delta-D Technology. This paper presents information regarding the process of Manufacture of Organic Fertiliser from Poultry Slaughterhouse Waste Rendering Plant Sludge Using Delta-D Technology.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Manufacturing of biogas from digested paddy staw using delta - D technology
(2014-08-08) Weeranayake, S; Perera, SAS
Anaerobic digestion is commonly used for waste water treatment. Technologies have been introduced and new technologies are being developed to generate biogas by anaerobic digestion oforganic waste,as an integrated solution for waste treatment and for energy production from waste. Being an agricultural country, Sri Lanka generatesover five million metric tonnes of rice straw (RS) per annum as a by-product in the cultivation of rice. Currently RS is dumped or burnt without converting it to a productive output.One productive output that can be produced is biogas. National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERDC) is one of the main state owned research and development (R & D) organisations, that has developed a patented technology, well known as Dry Batch Biogas Technology, to generate biogas by anaerobic digestion of RS. However, due to several technical and economic reasons (Alwis A, et al, 1997 and Perera S.A.S, 2001) manufacture of biogas from RS has been abandoned. Professor S.A.S. Perera, Professor of Chemical and Process Engineering of the University of Moratuwa, has developed a patented technology, well known as Delta-D Technology (DT), by which most types of organic waste can be rapidly digested into organic fertiliser, by using a patented digestive fluid called Delta-D. Currently DT is being used to convert fibrous RS into a powder, within 1 day, using DT. In this study,experiments have been done to explore the possibility of biogas production from RS, digested by DT. Two experiment set up were conducted to do comparison of biogas production of digested rice straw and untreated rice straw.
item: Conference-Full-text
Measurement and analysis of concentrations of volatile organic compounds in a newly painted room
(2013-11-13) Jayasinghe, C; Perera, SAS; Rajapaksa, SW; Perera, TM
Since, people spend most of their times indoors, either at home or at work, it is essential to maintain a high level of health and safety inside all types of buildings. If the health conditions of occupants are adversely affected due to the indoor environment, it is called the sick building syndrome (SBS). The main causes of SBS are, bad planning of a building, which leads to, poor ventilation, higher temperature, higher humidity, poor building operational practices and emissions from building materials. Air pollutants due to building materials can include paints and coatings which may emit harmful chemicals. Further the emissions from building maintenance chemicals, such as, detergents, disinfectants, antiseptics and air fresheners can pollute the indoor environment. The main objective of the research covered in this paper is to measure concentrations of gaseous emissions from water based and solvent based paints, during the painting process and immediately after painting and to compare results with air quality standards. The Indoor Air Quality Monitor (IQM60/Environmental Monitor V5.0) was used to measure concentrations of gaseous emissions. The results indicated that the concentration of TVOC (Total Volatile Organic Compounds) has increased during the painting process and the time taken for the emissions to get dispersed and the air quality of the room to get back to the permissible level has been found to be more than two hours.