Tracking of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions From Unsaturated Polyester Resin–Based Artificial Stone Using Automated Static Headspace–Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

An automated SHS–GC–MS method was developed for VOC tracking during UPR curing. • Seven VOCs were simultaneously quantified with low detection limits and good accuracy. • Compound-specific VOC emission behaviors during artificial stone curing were revealed. • Styrene peaked at 953 μg g⁻¹ during the early stage of the curing process. • VOC emissions were observed to persist for 29 days. To enable rapid and reliable tracking of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from unsaturated polyester resin (UPR)based artificial stone, an automated static headspace gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SHS–GC–MS) method was developed and systematically optimized. Key parameters, including incubation temperature (60°C), incubation time (30 min), and inlet temperature (250°C), were optimized to achieve efficient extraction and separation of seven target VOCs: dichloromethane, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethylbenzene, styrene, benzaldehyde, and styrene oxide. The method demonstrated excellent linearity ( R ² = 0.991–0.998), low limits of detection (0.18–0.36 µg g -1 ) and quantification (0.54–1.11 µg g -1 ), along with satisfactory accuracy (recoveries of 88.3–104.6%) and precision ( RSD < 12.2%). Uncertainty analysis revealed that calibration and standard preparation were the dominant contributors to overall measurement uncertainty. Application of the method to UPR-based artificial stone during curing showed a pronounced time-dependent decline in VOC emissions. Styrene was the dominant component, peaking at 953 µg g -1 in the early curing stage and decreasing to baseline levels after approximately 29 days. Dichloromethane and ethyl acetate declined to near detection limits within 8 days, ethylbenzene persisted for about 13 days, while methyl acetate and benzaldehyde remained detectable for up to 24 days. These results indicate that the early curing stage poses the highest emission risk. Overall, the proposed method provides a robust analytical tool for VOC tracking, supporting emission control and environmental risk assessment of UPR-based artificial stone.