Emission of gases under high temperature after pouring molten metal into moulds, which contain the organic binder or other additives

(solvents or curing agent), may be an important factor influencing both on the quality of the produced castings, and on the state of

environment. Therefore, a comprehensive study of the emitted gases would allow to determine restrictions on the use of the moulding

sands in foundry technologies, eg. the probability of occurrence of casting defects, and identify the gaseous pollutants emitted to the

environment. The aim of the research presented in this paper was to determine the amount of gases that are released at high temperatures

from moulding sands bonded by biopolymer binder and the quantitative assessment of the emitted pollutants with particular emphasis on

chemical compounds: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX). The water-soluble modified potato starch as a sodium

carboxymethyl starch with low (CMS-NaL) or high (CMS-NaH) degree of substitution was a binder in the tested moulding sands.

A tests of gases emission level were conducted per the procedure developed at the Faculty of Foundry Engineering (AGH University of

Science and Technology) involving gas chromatography method (GC). The obtained results of the determination of amount of BTEX

compounds generated during the decomposition process of starch binders showed lower emission of aromatic hydrocarbons in comparison

with binder based on resin Kaltharz U404 with the acidic curing agent commonly used in the foundries.