Determination of Formaldehyde Traces in Fabric and in Wastewater by a Kinetic Catalytic Spetrophotometic Method

A simple and sensitive kinetic catalytic spectrophotometric method is reported for the determination of trace amount of formaldehyde based on the catalytic effect of formaldehyde on the oxidation of Grey mordant BN with potassium bromate in sulfuric acid media. The decrease in absorbance of the reaction mixture was measured at 515.0 nm. Formaldehyde in the range of 0.10~-0.75 mug/mL can be determined with a limit of detection of 6.01 ng/mL. The method has been used to determined trace formaldehyde in fabric and in wastewater. The results obtained show good agreement with those determined by acetyl acetone method.