EPA Method TO11 Determination of Formaldehyde in Ambient Air using Adsorbant Cartridge followed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

This application brief highlights the determination of formaldehyde in ambient air using adsorbant cartridge followed by
High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Benefits

• Determination of Formaldehyde in Ambient Air 
• EPA Method T011

Formaldehyde is an important industrial chemical used in the manu-facturing of other chemicals, building materials, and household products. It is one of the large family of chemical compounds called volatile organic compounds or “VOCs”. At normal room temperatures these compounds vaporize. When present in air at levels above 0.1 ppm it can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and nasal passages, as well as coughing, wheezing, and allergic reactions. Formaldehyde has been classified as a potential carcinogen and, as such, is regulated in many countries: Japan, 0.08 ppm; World Health Organization Europe, 0.08 ppm; Sweden, 0.1 ppm; US Department of Housing and Urban Development, 0.4 ppm.

Sample preparation

Use Sep-Pak DNPH Silica cartridge, backflush cartridge with acetonitrile.

Eluent preparation

Filter and degas through a 0.45 μm filter.

A: 90% water, 10% tetrahydrofuran (THF). Mix 900 mL water and 100 mL stabilized THF.

B: Acetonitrile

1. Determination of Formaldehyde in Ambient Air 720001988EN
2. Analysis of DNPH Derivatives using XBridge Phenyl WAT60186