In this note, a determination method for formaldehyde is described using a GL-7400 HPLC system.
Formaldehyde is used as a component of various material, such as coating solution, adhesive agent, antiseptics, and resins. However, it is also a well-known chemical compound responsible for sick house syndrome. Formaldehyde released into indoor air can irritate eyes and mucous membranes. Furthermore, baby clothes containing formaldehyde cause severe skin inflammation.
Therefore, formaldehyde contents of household products are regulated by law in Japan. The contents of baby clothes must be less than 16 ppm (=mg/kg), while those of other household products are required to be less than 75 ppm.
In this note, the determination of formaldehyde in clothing was performed compliant with the enforcement regulations of the law. The water extracts from samples were derivatized by acetylacetone (2,4-pentandione) and injected to the HPLC system coupled with UV-VIS detector.