Analytical Methods for Formaldehyde–A Review

Because low-level exposure to formaldehyde has questionable effects on human health and because of the need for quality control, many methods for detecting and quantifying formaldehyde have been developed. Gas chromatography is useful when formaldehyde is present in substantial amounts. , Liquid chromatography can be used to quantify formaldehyde derivatives, but not for pure formaldehyde. Polarography is useful for quantifying either trace of major concentrations of pure formaldehyde or its derivatives and is recognized by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Calorimetric methods, such as with chromotropic acid (also recognized by NIOSH) or acetylacetone, as well as titrimetric methods such as with sodium sulfite or hydroxylamine hydrochloride, are easy to perform and highly sensitive. Among the methods available for sampling wood products are nondestructive ones that mimic in-use emissions and destructive ones that determine how environmental variables affect emissions. With any method selected to quantify formaldehyde after it has been collected, the lack of extraneous chemicals in the sample must be confirmed.

You must be logged in to download any documents. Please login (login accounts are free) or learn how to Become a Member