A Vapor Transport Method for Estimating Free Formaldehyde in Solutions of Textile Chemicals

A method to determine the free formaldehyde contents of solutions of textile chemicals was investigated. The amount of free formaldehyde in various solutions could be estimated quantitatively by a vapor transport method. Previous studies on vapor transport of formaldehyde to and from cotton fabrics had suggested the promise of this technique for quantification. With proper control of conditions, a direct relationship exists between free formaldehyde in a solution and that transported to cotton. The new vapor transport method eliminates much of the interference that complicates or prohibits the use of current analytical methods with solutions containing complex mixtures of textile chemicals. The study gives a description of the method, representative data obtained and their statistical correlation, and an indication of further development needed for standardization of the method.