Polymer compositions comprising active carbon for formaldehyde sorption

A process for reducing the amount of volatile organic compound in a closed chamber or container comprising the steps of:

• (1) enclosing an entrained polymer composition within the chamber or container, the entrained polymer composition being a monolithic material comprising:
• (a) from 20 to 70% by weight of a base polymer selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polyisoprene, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polyhexene, polybutadiene, polybutene, polysiloxane, polycarbonate, polyamide, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-methacrylate copolymer, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene, polyester, polyanhydride, polyacrylonitrile, polysulfone, polyacrylic ester, acrylic, polyurethane, polyacetal, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), a copolymer, or a combination thereof;
• (b) from 20 to 70% by weight of activated carbon, wherein the activated carbon is tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane impregnated carbon;
• and
• (c) from 2 to 15% by weight of a channeling agent that is defined as a polymer material that is immiscible with the base polymer and has an affinity to transport a gas phase substance at a faster rate than the base polymer alone, wherein the channeling agent is selected from polyethylene glycol (PEG), ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), glycerin polyamine, polyurethane, polycarboxylic acid, propylene oxide polymerisate-monobutyl ether, propylene oxide polymerisate, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon 6, nylon 66, or a combination thereof,
• wherein the % by weight are based on the total weight of the entrained polymer composition, and
• wherein the activated carbon and the channeling agent are distributed throughout the entrained polymer;
• and
• (2) allowing the entrained polymer composition in the chamber or container to reduce the amount of the volatile organic compound.