---
url: https://www.eurocovers.eu/glossary/voc
term: VOC (volatile organic compound)
definition: A carbon-containing compound with high vapour pressure at ambient temperature. VOCs at the water-air interface drive air-quality compliance and odor.
updated: 2026-05-25
---

# VOC (volatile organic compound)

A carbon-containing compound with high vapour pressure at ambient temperature. VOCs at the water-air interface drive air-quality compliance and odor.

A **VOC** (volatile organic compound) is a carbon-containing compound with a high vapour pressure
at ambient temperature. VOC release from open water surfaces — in oil and gas produced-water ponds,
food and beverage processing, wastewater, and chemical operations — drives air-quality compliance
under the EU Industrial Emissions Directive and adjacent national regulations. Floating covers
reduce VOC release by 70–85% by reducing mass transfer at the water-air interface.